After 9 seasons and an 18-16 season with a final disappointing loss Tuesday to Georgia Tech in the NIT, Tom Crean, 50, is gone as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.
“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,” Indiana director of athletics Fred Glass said in a statement. “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.”
Glass’ statement said that the school is seeking “more consistent, high levels of success.”
Glass said that he has been charged to find a new coach. He will not create a search committee but said that he will consult with basketball experts around the country, including former Indiana players.
“The national search for our new coach begins immediately,” said Glass. ‘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 was 148-118 overall and 64-80 in Big Ten play heading into this season, and the Hoosiers got off to a strong start before struggling and finishing 18-16 overall and 7-11 in league play.
Crean was the head coach at Marquette for nine seasons before taking over at Indiana. At Marquette, he was 190-96 overall and made five NCAA tournament appearances. He went to the Final Four in 2003 behind a breakout performance from Dwyane Wade.
Crean also spent time as an assistant coach at Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky and Alma College.
He signed a contract extension in 2012 to keep him in Bloomington through 2020. His buyout went from $12 million to $4 million in the past two years.
