Brad Stevens issued a strong denial linking him to the head coaching vacancy of the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Hoosiers are searching for a new head coach and Stevens has ties to the area as a native of Indiana.

"I said it the other day: I'm not (considering it)," Stevens said. "And I tried to say it as clearly as I could and also make sure that people understand that that place to me is special. Because I don't want to make it sound like it's not. But, like I said the other day, I'm so grateful to this organization, and to the people here, and for all that they've done for us. I've got unbelievable leadership in Danny (Ainge) and Wyc (Grousbeck) and Pags (Steve Pagliuca), and what they've done for us, the way we've been supported ... we're going through a tough season, and I think that it's not my job to not go through it. It's not my job to not make sure I'm doing everything I can to help find a better version of ourselves this year. "

Stevens left Butler for the Celtics in 2013 to replace Doc Rivers.

"I love coming to work every day. I love this area," Stevens continued. "People have been great to us. My family is so happy. And, at the same time, home is home. And that's why I wanted to make sure everybody understood that means a lot. But no. Just like I said on Tuesday, I'm not. So, I don't know if I will have to answer that again on Monday, but I hope that people understand that. And people can hopefully appreciate that it still means a lot to me and I hope they hire whoever they hire and they are there for 20 years and kids feel like I did. But I'm not a kid anymore. I'm a 44-year-old Ma--hole. I swerve around others when I'm driving, I eat Dunkin Donuts and I root for the Patriots. I'm, unfortunately, skewed in a lot of ways, I guess."