Indiana football hires search firm to help find Tom Allen's replacement

BLOOMINGTON – IU is engaging prominent search firm TurnkeyZRG as part of its due diligence in selecting its next head football coach, IndyStar has learned.

Turnkey, whose recent clients include the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, the San Francisco 49ers, several major sports leagues and a handful of other professional franchises, is among the most well-known search firms in the country. Its website cites its involvement in “over 1,400 executive searches,” with an extensive collegiate client list — including the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Alabama, Michigan, LSU, Oklahoma, Penn State and others — as well.

COACHING HOT BOARD 2.0:Who will Indiana turn to replace Tom Allen?

Indiana’s financial obligation to Turnkey was not immediately available, but prior searches typically included five-figure fees. South Carolina reportedly paid in excess of $34,000 to Turnkey for its involvement in the search that led to Shane Beamer’s hiring, while Wisconsin paid $50,000 following the search that ended with the Badgers hiring Luke Fickell.

Firms are typically employed through the search process for a variety of purposes that require a relative amount of discretion.

Their services can cover anything from background vetting, to acting as a third-party intermediary to sound out potential candidates in ways that allow all parties plausible deniability, to eventually connecting candidates with programs.

Indications remain that Indiana would like its search to move quickly, perhaps wrapping up in just a matter of days. The Hoosiers parted ways with Tom Allen after the end of his seventh season in charge, negotiating a $15.5 million buyout with Allen on Sunday.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.