• The 2020 American Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year, Tom Allen is entering his seventh season as Indiana head football coach in 2023.
• Named the 2020 Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (Big Ten coaches vote) and the Dave McClain Coach of the Year (Big Ten media vote).
• Joined Bill Mallory (1986, 1987) as the only Hoosier head coaches to earn the honor.
• Received the 2020 Grant Teaff Coach of the Year from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
• Became the third IU head coach to be named AFCA National Coach of the Year along with Bo McMillin (1945) and John Pont (1967).
• Allen was also a finalist for the 2020 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, the Dodd Trophy, and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
• A 31-year coaching veteran, Allen was named the program’s 29th head football coach on Dec. 1, 2016.
• His 30 wins ranks seventh in school history.
• Made his head coaching debut in the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl.
• The New Castle, Ind., native joined Indiana’s staff as associate head coach/defense on Jan. 15, 2016, and he promptly went on to become a Broyles Award nominee.
• Allen has strong ties to the Hoosier state as he served as head coach at Ben Davis High School (2004-06), defensive coordinator at Ben Davis (1998-03) and Marion High School (1997), and earned his master’s degree from IU (2002).
• Over the past 28 seasons, the teams for which Allen has been a member of the coaching staff have posted a combined record of 252-108 (.700).
 
MAKING HISTORY (2020)
• Indiana (6-2, 6-1 Big Ten) finished the year ranked for a program record 10-consecutive weeks, including a No. 12 final rating from the Associated Press, its highest final ranking since 1967 (No. 4).
• IU played in consecutive January bowl games for the first time in school history with its invitation to the 2021 Outback Bowl.
• The Hoosiers were ranked in the Top 10 six times, the second-most in program history behind the 1945 team (9 weeks).
• Indiana collected its first Top-10 ranking in the Nov. 8 AP Poll (No. 10) since Sept. 22, 1969 (No. 10).
• IU’s No. 7 rating (Dec. 13, 20) was its best in the AP Poll since Nov. 27, 1967 (No. 4).
• The Hoosiers three Top-25 victories tied for the third-most in the country and matched the school record (1945).
• Indiana clinched a winning league record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-88 and for the sixth time overall (1967-68, 1944-46, 1936-37).
• IU’s six conference wins tied for the most in program history (1967, 1987).
• The Hoosiers 11 Big Ten victories over the 2019-20 seasons are tied for the most in school history over a two-year span (1987-88).
• Indiana collected its first win over No. 16 Wisconsin (14-6) since defeating the Badgers in 2001 and 2002, the former coming at Camp Randall Stadium.
• IU recorded its first road victory over a ranked opponent since No. 18 Missouri in 2014, and its first B1G road win over a ranked opponent since No. 22 Michigan State in 2001.
• The Hoosiers matched a program record with five-straight league victories (1967) before losing at No. 3 Ohio State and won 11-of-14, their most successful stretch in conference games in school history.
• Indiana defeated Michigan State, 24-0, to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2016 and earn its first win in East Lansing since 2001.
• IU’s 38-21 victory over No. 23 Michigan was its first over the Wolverines since 1987.
• The Hoosiers 36-35, overtime win against No. 8 Penn State in the season opener was the sixth against a Top-10 opponent in program history, with the previous coming at No. 9 Ohio State in 1987.
• It marked Indiana’s first Top-10 victory at Memorial Stadium since 1967 (No. 3 Purdue).
• IU defeated PSU, U-M, MSU, and UW in the same season for the first time in school history and beat the Wolverines and Spartans in the same year for the first time since 1967.
 
BREAKTHROUGH SEASON (2019)
• Guided the Hoosiers to the 2020 TaxSlayer Bowl, the program’s first bowl game in the state of Florida.
• Indiana finished with an 8-5 record and a 5-4 Big Ten mark.
• IU reached eight wins for just the eighth time in school history and the first time since 1993, and it finished one win shy of matching the program record set in 1945 and 1967.
• The Hoosiers five-conference wins tied for the fourth-most in school history, one off the program record of six (1967, 1987, 2020).
• Indiana posted a winning conference mark for the first time since 1993 (5-3) and its first winning season overall since 2007 (7-6).
• On Nov. 10, IU entered the Associated Press Poll (No. 24) for the first time since Sept. 20, 1994, and moved into the Coaches Poll (No. 25) for the first time since Oct. 17, 1994.
 
HOOSIER HONORS
• Three coaches on Allen’s staffs have been candidates for the Broyles Award, including 2020 finalist Kane Wommack and 2019 semifinalist Kalen DeBoer.
• Wommack is currently the South Alabama head coach and DeBoer is the Washington head coach.
• In his six seasons as head coach, 61 Hoosiers have earned All-Big Ten honors.
• Kick return specialist Jaylin Lucas earned All-America accolades from six outlets in 2022, including four first-team honors.
• Lucas became the first Hoosier and the first conference true freshman to be named the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.
• Tiawan Mullen became the first cornerback in program history to garner first-team All-America recognition in 2020.
• Wide receiver Ty Fryfogle and linebacker Micah McFadden collected third-team All-America accolades, giving Indiana three All-Americans in the same campaign for the first time since 2007.
• A school record 16 IU standouts received All-Big Ten honors.
• Fryfogle became the first wideout in Indiana history to be named the Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year.
• He also was one of 11 Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, and Michael Penix Jr. was one of 17 Davey O’Brien Award semifinalists.
• A program record seven Hoosiers, including a school record four first-teamers, earned defensive recognition.
• Thirteen IU players secured 2017 all-conference honors, including six defenders, which matched 2016’s mark.
• Mullen was named a 2019 True Freshman All-American.
• Thirty-four Hoosiers have been drafted or invited to NFL camps over the last six seasons, including a school-record 11 in 2018.
• Sixteen have worked out over the last six NFL Combines, highlighted by a program-record five in 2018.
• Linebacker Micah McFadden (New York Giants-2022), safety Jamar Johnson (Denver-2021), guard Simon Stepaniak (Green Bay-2020), guard Wes Martin (Washington-2019), tight end Ian Thomas (Carolina-2018), and linebacker Chris Covington (Dallas-2018) have been selected in the NFL Draft.
• Coached 15 Hoosiers currently on NFL rosters.
• Wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr., kicker Griffin Oakes, and linebacker Tegray Scales garnered 2017 first-team all-league recognition. Oakes was named the Bakken-Andersen Kicker of the Year.
• Harry Crider became the 10th Hoosier to receive Academic All-America honors in 2021.
• A school-record 40 student-athletes collected Academic All-Big Ten in 2022, besting the previous mark of 39 from 2021, and Allen’s six-year mark stands at 174.
• Achieved unparalleled recruiting success. IU’s 2022 signing class was the highest rated in program history and finished in the Top 25 nationally, besting the previous top-ranked classes of 2018 and 2019, and included a record eight four-star prospects.

LEADING THE IU DEFENSE (2016-18)
• Allen’s defenses reached heights not seen in a generation in Bloomington.
• Continued to oversee the defense as head coach in 2017 and 2018, and his charges finished 2018 with 26 takeaways (T-11th nationally; T-2nd in the Big Ten), 13 fumble recoveries (T-5th; 2nd), and 13 interceptions (T-33rd; T-6th).
• During the 2016-17 campaigns, IU was the most improved team nationally in total defense (-169.4 ypg) and passing defense (-134.1 ypg), the sixth-most improved in third-down defense (-12.2 percent), and the ninth-most improved in points per game allowed (-12.3 ppg).
• The Hoosiers finished ninth nationally in third-down defense (29.9 percent – best program mark since 1992; 3rd in the Big Ten), 17th in passing defense (179.7 ypg – best program mark since 1995; 4th in the Big Ten), and 26th in total defense (340.1 ypg – best program mark since 1995) in 2017.
• Indiana ranked in the Top 6 in the Big Ten in both total offense (6th) and total defense (6th) for the first time since 1991.
• Engineered one of the top defensive turnarounds in the country in 2016. IU improved in every major statistical category against a schedule featuring four Top-10 opponents, a program first.
• The Hoosiers held their opponents to 380.1 total yards, down 129.4 yards from 2015, the largest improvement in the country; limited their foes to 94.1 fewer passing yards, also first nationally; 10.4 fewer points, which ranked fourth nationally; and gave up 25 fewer touchdowns than in 2015.
• Led the program’s first All-American at linebacker since 1987, Tegray Scales (SI.com second-teamer).
 
AT SOUTH FLORIDA (2015)
• Defensive coordinator at the University of South Florida in 2015.
• South Florida posted an 8-5 record and earned a trip to the Miami Beach Bowl. Allen mentored three all-conference selections and the American Athletic Conference’s top scoring defense (19.6 ppg in league play).
• In his lone season in Tampa, USF tied for 13th nationally in tackles for loss (7.5 per game), 14th in interceptions (17), 24th in takeaways (25), and 26th in sacks (2.62 per game), and was 31st in rushing defense (141.4 ypg), 34th in passing efficiency defense (118.76), and 35th in scoring defense (22.9 ppg).
 
AT OLE MISS (2012-14)
• Spent the 2012-14 campaigns as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Ole Miss, where he coached All-SEC linebackers Serderius Bryant and Denzel Nkemdiche.
• The Rebels closed out 2014 with a 9-4 record and ranked No. 9 after they met No. 6 TCU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Ole Miss spent nine weeks in the AP Top 10 with a high-water mark of No. 3.
• Additionally, the Rebels led the nation in scoring defense (13.8 ppg) and allowed a national-low 18 touchdowns.
• Ole Miss topped the SEC in five categories and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in 11, including 10th in red zone defense, 11th in tackles for loss (7.5 per game), 12th in takeaways (28), 13th in total defense (321.2 ypg), and 13th in defensive touchdowns scored (4).
• Worked with defensive coordinator Dave Wommack to help guide a huge improvement in the Rebels defense, which ranked last in the SEC in total defense before their arrival in 2011. Under their stewardship, Ole Miss consistently ranked among the top teams in the SEC and nationally in tackles for loss and sacks.
• Nkemdiche earned Freshman All-America honors and second-team AP All-SEC after leading the Rebels in tackles (82), TFLs (13.0), forced fumbles (4), and interceptions (3) in 2012.
 
PAYING HIS DUES
• As assistant head coach at Arkansas State University (2011), the Red Wolves led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked in the Top 25 nationally in total defense (331.46 ypg) and scoring defense (20.77 ppg). ASU also finished eighth nationally in tackles for loss (7.62 per game) and 15th in sacks (2.69 per game).
• Arkansas State went 10-2 overall and 8-0 in the Sun Belt. Allen coached first-team all-conference selection Demario Davis and second-team pick Nathan Herrold. Davis was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
• Prior to ASU, Allen served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Drake University (2010). The Bulldogs allowed just 330 yards per game while ranking No. 6 nationally in the FCS in rush defense (94.2 ypg), No. 8 in sacks (33), No. 17 in tackles for loss (81), and No. 25 in scoring defense (20.4 ppg).
• Oversaw seven All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) players, one All-America selection, and the PFL Defensive Player of the Year.
• At NAIA Lambuth University (2008-09), Allen was the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach, and he was a part of two Mid-South Conference championships and the school’s first undefeated regular season (11-0) in 2009. That defense ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring defense, No. 7 in pass defense and sacks, No. 9 in total defense, and No. 12 in third-down conversions.
• Tutored eight first-team all-conference players, one NAIA All-America selection, and a Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year.
• First collegiate coaching stop was at Wabash College, where as secondary coach and special teams coordinator the team won the NCAC championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Three defensive backs were named to the All-NCAC team.
• Defensive coordinator at Armwood High School (1995-96) and head coach at Temple Heights High School (1992-94) in Florida.
 
PERSONAL
• Tom and his wife, Tracy, have three children, Hannah, Thomas, and Brittney. Thomas is in his second season as a graduate assistant for the Hoosiers, and he was a linebacker from 2018-21.
• Earned his bachelor’s degree from Maranatha Baptist University (Wis.) in 1992.
 

 












WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TOM ALLEN
“Coach Allen is the epitome of a players’ coach. He brings the same great attitude to the facility every single day. There isn’t a better person to teach and develop young men in college football. I personally cannot thank him enough for all that he has done for me!!”
- Micah McFadden, IU All-American & New York Giants Linebacker

“Coach Allen was the best guy to step in at Indiana. He did a phenomenal job taking over, getting everybody juiced up and on the right page. He has the mantra ‘L.E.O.’, Love Each Other. Everybody is buying into that. I think he is doing a really good job.”
- Dan Feeney, Former IU & Current New York Jets Offensive Lineman

“Tom Allen is a great coach who truly knows how to connect with the hearts of his players.”
- Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints Linebacker & Former Allen Player

“Coach Allen has been a part of a lot of winning during his coaching career and has helped guide some very aggressive and successful defenses. He is a great coach and a great person.”
- Willie Taggart, Florida Atlanta University Head Coach

“I think that Tom Allen is one of the best Christian men I know. Tom has the rare talents of being strong, passionate, and firm while keeping a joyful smile on his face. Tom is a great role model and leader for young men of all ages.”
- Dave Wommack, Former Ole Miss Defensive Coordinator

“Coach Allen is a coach through and through. He cares about his players and has an infectious enthusiasm for Indiana Football. He has demonstrated throughout his career the ability to get the most out of his players and I anticipate he will have Indiana competing at a high level within the Big Ten and nationally.”
- Joel Klatt, FOX Sports College Football Analyst

“Coach Allen is a high-energy coach that will demand the very best from his players on and off the field. I’m looking forward to watching the Hoosiers move forward under his direction.”
- Howard Griffith, BTN College Football Analyst

“Tom Allen is a very genuine person, and he does a tremendous job of convincing his players that he cares about them. And he truly does. They play hard for him and play with great emotion and enthusiasm. Tom has a tremendous attitude, and tremendous motivational and teaching skills.”
- Dick Dullaghan, Indiana High School Football Hall of Fame Coach