(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Tom Crean is done as the head coach for the Indiana University men’s basketball team. A press conference will be held at 3:00 P.M. today to make the official announcement.
What Happened?
Tom Crean has been fired as the Hoosiers’ head coach. IU Athletic Director Fred Glass released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“After deliberative thought and evaluation, including multiple meetings with Tom about the future, I have decided to make a change in the leadership of our men’s basketball program. Tom Crean brought us through one of the most challenging periods in IU basketball history, led his players to many successes in the classroom and on the court and represented our university with class and integrity. While winning two outright Big Ten titles in five years and being named Big Ten Coach of the Year, Tom worked tirelessly to develop great young men and successful teams. However, ultimately, we seek more consistent, high levels of success, and we will not shy away from our expectations. Tom is a good man and a good coach and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for his many positive contributions to Indiana basketball. We wish him well.
The national search for our new coach begins immediately. The Board of Trustees and the President have expressly delegated to me the responsibility and authority for this search and hire. While I will not be establishing a formal search committee or advisory committee, I will consult with basketball experts from around the country and throughout the State of Indiana, including many former Indiana University basketball players. The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship—and more after that. We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations.”
Crean went 166-135 (.551) in his nine seasons as head coach at IU. In that time, he won two Big Ten titles and made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 three times. However, the Hoosiers went just 18-16 last year, including a 7-11 record in the Big Ten.
Who Is Tom Crean?
Tom Crean, 50, is an NCAA men’s basketball coach. He began his head coaching career at Marquette, where he served from 1999-2008. During his time there, Crean posted a record of 190-96 (.664) and a 90-56 (.616) conference record.
In 2008, Crean was hired as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, succeeding interim head coach Dan Dakich. He began his IU tenure with just two walk-ons on the roster but managed to post a winning record in his nine seasons.
