Any thought that Tom Allen could return to Ole Miss as the Rebels’ defensive coordinator is over.

Allen has agreed to become Indiana’s head coach following the resignation of Kevin Wilson, Indiana athletic director Fred Glass announced Thursday. Allen, an Indiana native, was in his first season as the Hoosiers’ defensive coordinator.

Glass: "I'm very pleased that Tom Allen has agreed to be the next permanent head coach of Indiana." #iufb

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— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016

Allen coached Ole Miss’ linebackers and special teams under Hugh Freeze before leaving to be the defensive coordinator at South Florida in 2015. Freeze is searching for a defensive coordinator following Dave Wommack’s decision to retire after a 38-year coaching career.

The ties to Freeze made Allen an obvious person of interest when speculating who Ole Miss’ coach could be targeting to run the defense, but Allen was next in line for the Hoosiers when multiple reports surfaced earlier in the day that Wilson and the school would be parting ways amid allegations of player mistreatment.

Glass said in a press conference the decision was “based on the philosophical differences we have in terms of leadership of Indiana football program,” according to the Indianapolis Star.

It’s the first head coaching job for Allen at the collegiate level.

Allen, who helped develop lightly recruited linebackers Denzel Nkemdiche and Serderius Bryant into All-SEC performers while at Ole Miss, has quickly turned Indiana’s defense around. The Hoosiers are 40th nationally in total defense under Allen’s direction after finishing 120th a season ago.

Freeze, who took to Twitter to congratulate his former assistant, said after Ole Miss’ loss to Mississippi State on Saturday that he wasn’t far along in his search for Wommack’s replacement.

So proud for my friend @Tom_Allen44 and his wonderful family!! IU got a good one!! Mentor of men

— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) December 1, 2016