Alex Bozich 08/20/2013 9:23 pm in Media

Calbert Cheaney, the all-time leading scorer in the Big Ten and one of the best to ever wear an Indiana uniform, is leaving his position as director of basketball operations in Bloomington for an assistant coaching job at Saint Louis University.

Inside the Hall confirmed a report Tuesday evening by the Indiana Rivals site that Cheaney had accepted the position.

A spokesperson at Saint Louis also confirmed Cheaney’s hiring to Inside the Hall.

“It is bittersweet to leave Indiana,” Cheaney said in a release issued by Saint Louis on Wednesday. “Learning and building relationships with Coach (Tom) Crean, the IU staff and the players was an unbelievable experience. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

A major motivation in Cheaney’s decision to accept the job was the opportunity to get on the floor and work with players and also recruit, according to a source.

“Calbert played an invaluable role in the success we enjoyed the last two years and we are excited for what the future holds for him and his family,” Crean said in a release. “He brought a great deal to us and in turn, I think he gained valuable insight into the profession during his time at IU.

“He has come to have a strong desire to return to the floor coaching and can do so with someone he trusts and respects in Jim Crews. He will do an outstanding job and there is no doubt in my mind that he has a tremendous future coaching at any level.”

Cheaney joined Crean’s staff at Indiana on June 18, 2011.

The opportunity on the Saint Louis staff under Jim Crews, who led the Billikens to a 28-7 record and NCAA tournament appearance as an interim coach last season, became available when Jim Whitesell left for St. John’s back on August 6.

Crews, an Indiana alumnus, played on the 1976 NCAA championship team, the last undefeated champion in college basketball. Crews was also the coach at Evansville from 1985 through 1994 and recruited Cheaney, who played at Evansville Harrison, while serving as the head coach of the Purple Aces.

“I have had a great appreciation for Calbert as a player and person ever since I met him during his sophomore year in high school,” Crews said in a release. “He is of high character and has a great combination of work habits and work ethic. Calbert is very good at transferring his knowledge to the players he coaches, and he will fit in well with our coaching staff and players. We are excited to welcome him into the program.”

Cheaney was a three time All-American (1991,92, 93) for the Hoosiers who was named College Player of the Year and won both the Wooden and Naismith Awards and Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior.

He is the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten history with 2,613 points and led Indiana to a 105-27 record, a Final Four appearance in 1992 and a No. 1 ranking for most of the 1993 season.

Filed to: Calbert Cheaney