Indiana State is finalizing a deal with interim head coach Matthew Graves to become the permanent frontman for the Sycamores, Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday.

Graves, 49, was the top assistant coach to Josh Schertz, who left last week to take the head coaching post at Saint Louis. Indiana State named Graves interim head coach on Saturday. Graves joined Schertz’s staff in March 2021.

All five of Indiana State’s starters entered the transfer portal on Tuesday.

Graves was the one-time head coach at South Alabama, going 65-96 in five seasons (2013-18).

The Sycamores missed the NCAA Tournament after losing to Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game, but they received a No. 1 seed in the NIT. They won four games before falling 79-77 to Seton Hall in the title game.

Schertz went 66-40 in three seasons at Terre Haute, Ind.

–Field Level Media