Tom Allen takes pay cut to fire Indiana offensive coordinator

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner11/28/21

Jonathan Wagner

Following a disappointing 2-10 season that included an 0-9 record in the Big Ten, the Indiana Hoosiers have made a major change to their coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Indiana has fired offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan. To allow the move, Indiana head coach Tom Allen has taken a pay cut.

Allen’s salary will decrease by $200,000 in each season from 2022-2025. There were no changes made to the length of his deal.

“I want to thank Nick for his work and commitment to our football program,” Allen said in a release. “He is a good football coach and a man of tremendous character, but we are in need of a reset on the offensive side of the ball. We will begin our search for Nick’s replacement immediately.”

Indiana ended the season on an eight-game losing streak. The Hoosiers scored just 207 total points on the season, which is better than just Northwestern.

“We did not meet the standard that I expect from our football program, and that starts with me,” said Allen. “This season was not acceptable and we will work to address it.”

Sheridan previously coached Indiana quarterbacks in 2017 and 2018 before coaching tight ends in 2019. He was in his second season as Indiana’s offensive coordinator.

Indiana’s offense struggled under Sheridan, although injuries plagued the team

While Indiana’s offense did struggle tremendously, which led to the change on Allen’s staff, injuries wrote a story of their own. Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr was having a great season last year before suffering a season-ending injury. In 2020, Penix threw for 1,645 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions along with two rushing touchdowns before going down in Week 6 with an injury.

This season, the story was all too similar for Penix. He threw for 939 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions along with two rushing touchdowns in five games. But a shoulder injury again ended his season early. Jack Tuttle took over at quarterback, but he eventually suffered an injury of his own, forcing another quarterback change. Penix, Tuttle, Donaven McCulley and Grant Gremel all attempted at least 28 passes at quarterback this season.

The Hoosiers also averaged just 3.4 yards per carry with 1,327 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 396 attempts as a team. Indiana’s struggles led to a change, and Allen made a switch on his offensive staff.