Before I delve into the foundation of what makes Indiana Hoosiers' head coach Kevin Wilson so good at what he does, I need to put the cart back behind the horse and make clear that this is not a team that will be contending for the National Championship anytime soon.  Although they have improved on paper under Wilson and have gotten back to playing fundamental football that has made them a tougher opponent for teams than we are used to, Indiana was still only 2-6 in the conference last season after going just 1-11 previously in Wilson's first season as the head coach. 

So why so much confidence and optimism floating around the Hoosier campus? First lets look at who Kevin Wilson is and where he came from. 

Wilson's name became a hot commodity as the Oklahoma Sooners offensive coordinator before he accepted his current position three years ago.  He was first hired as the offensive-line coach in 2002 before being promoted.  Then, after he won the Broyles Award for the nations best assistant he turned down numerous coaching positions, most notably, Clemson back in 2008.  He won the award by leading the highest scoring-offense in college football history to the Big Twelve Title and to a BCS National Championship game.  He followed that up with another top-20 offense averaging 36 points per game while he tacked on another Big Twelve Title. 

Taking a step back further, Wilson previously had some experience in the midwest as an offensive coordinator for Northwestern.  It was there where he helped revitalize the spread formation and was the brains of unleashing the read-option which went on to dominate the Big Ten.  Stunning teams like Michigan and Wisconsin in shoot-outs and going on to led the Big Ten in total scoring offense and finish the season with a share of the conference title.  It was soon after when Bob Stoops came knocking on Wilson's door to take over their vacated offensive line coach position. 

Now lets jump back to the present.  Wilson struggled in his first season as most coaches do and then did what is a necessary for all second year coaches, and that was improve.  Although when your at the bottom it's hard not to go anywhere but up, Wilson helped his team improve in almost every statistical category last season as well as the most important stat, the number of wins and losses.  The Hoosiers went 4-8 last year, and their point differential was 137 points closer than the year prior going from -191 to just -54 which is a drastic improvement. 

Now entering his third season Wilson has generated a lot of buzz around his team and rightfully so, as there is many things to build off of and encouraged about.  The team goes into 2013 with a conference high of 19 returning starters including all but one returning on offense.  Meaning there will be an abundance of chemistry and cohesiveness surrounding this team from the get go.  Rather than working on the basics and fundamentals like most teams do early in there pre-season, the Hoosiers have been anything but vanilla and are diving deeper into their playbook and experimenting with more exotic packages and schemes.  All because they are returning the same faces in the same places where they left off in 2012 and that is a huge advantage for Wilson.  Another key piece to the puzzle is running back Tre Roberson who is returning this year from injury that kept him sidelined the majority of last year.  He will help add a missing spark to the offense and give them a more balanced attack.  If Indiana had him last year its possible a couple of the close losses would have went the other way giving them their first bowl birth in years. 

What has been the key contributing factor for Wilson's success not just for the Hoosiers but in his coaching career?  It's his no non-sense demeanor.  Unlike former head coach Bill Lynch who was accused for being to soft at times Wilson has brought a different attitude to the program along with an experienced staff.  The combination of the two has already made a difference for the team.  Wilson's staff has built a phenomenal resume during their time coaching as well.  Combining for 155 years of coaching experience, 67 bowl games, 21 BCS bowl games, 7 national championship games, and two national titles.  It goes with out saying this group of guys knows not only how to coach, but they also know what it takes to win.  The collection of their experience has came most in handy when it comes to recruiting.  Any potential recruit looking for a good education and excellent coaching has to consider Indiana high on their list.

Wilson's success in the recruiting process can be pointed towards Indiana's turn around just as much as anything.  Top recruits that would laugh when it came to offers from the Hoosiers program have suddenly struck a chord with Wilson's approach and it has shown in his recruiting classes.  After watching top athletes repeatedly turn down offers and signing only one four-star recruit in the last decade Wilson has put together another solid recruiting campaign.  Four four-star recruits have signed with Indiana three of which ranked in the top 250 players in the country combing to be the number 42 overall recruiting class in the nation.  Even after the yearly poor quality performances and only winning five games the past two years, under Wilson recruits are buying into his vision and the thought of what could be.  His new class of recruits are excited to put the Hoosier's football program back on the map and want to be a part of something special that has never been done before, all thanks to Wilson. 

After a tough first two seasons as head coach, Kevin Wilson has shown all the signs of improvement that you want to see from a struggling football program and not just from a statistical point of view. He has brought on one of the most experienced coaching staffs in football and his hard nosed attitude and tough demeanor is starting to transition its way to his team on and off the field.  Now with the highest ranked recruiting class the program has ever seen, Wilson is on his way to changing the tide of Indiana football from failure to success and get the Hoosiers program to places its never been to before.