Indiana Coach Darian DeVries Emotional Coaching Son on Senior Night

DeVries admits it was a 'challenge' to contain his emotions while coaching his son Tucker in his final home game.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Indiana head basketball coach Darian DeVries had to fight back tears while coaching his son Tucker in his final home game against Minnesota on Senior Night. DeVries has coached his son for his entire five-year college career, making it especially difficult to watch him play his last game at Assembly Hall. Despite the emotional challenge, Indiana secured a 77-47 victory to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Why it matters

Coaching a family member can be an incredibly emotional experience, especially for a major milestone like a senior night game. DeVries' openness about the difficulty of separating his roles as a coach and a father provides insight into the personal challenges that come with coaching one's own child at the collegiate level.

The details

DeVries admitted he battled his emotions 'the whole day' leading up to the game, saying 'you're a dad first, so that part was a challenge—still is, right now.' Despite the personal difficulty, Indiana was able to secure a much-needed victory, with four of their five starters reaching double figures. The win snapped a four-game skid and kept their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive as they head into their final regular season game at Ohio State.

  • Indiana played Minnesota on Thursday, March 5, 2026 for Tucker DeVries' Senior Night game.
  • Indiana's next game is at Ohio State to end the regular season.

The players

Darian DeVries

The 50-year-old head basketball coach at Indiana University, who has coached his son Tucker for his entire five-year college career.

Tucker DeVries

Darian DeVries' son, who is a senior basketball player at Indiana University and played his final home game against Minnesota on Senior Night.

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What they’re saying

“It's one of those where you're trying not to get too wrapped up in it — you're fighting it the whole day. You're a dad first. That part was a challenge, and still is right now.”

— Darian DeVries, Head Coach, Indiana University (Big Ten Network)

What’s next

Indiana will play their final regular season game at Ohio State, which is also fighting to remain in NCAA Tournament contention.

The takeaway

Coaching a family member can be an immensely emotional experience, even for seasoned coaches like Darian DeVries. DeVries' openness about the difficulty of separating his roles as a coach and a father on his son's Senior Night provides a relatable glimpse into the personal challenges that can arise when coaching one's own child at the collegiate level.