Tom Crean
Tom Crean (born March 25, 1966)
Teams coached: Marquette Golden Eagles, Indiana Hoosiers, Georgia Bulldogs
Marquette record: 190-96 (.664)
Indiana record: 166-135 (.551)
Georgia record: 47-75 (.385)
Overall record: 403-306 (.568)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 9 (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016)
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen: 4 (2003, 2012, 2013, 2016)
- NCAA Tournament Final Four: 1 (2003)
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 4 (2000, 2004, 2005, 2017)
- Big Ten Regular Season Champion: 2 (2013, 2016)
- Conference USA Regular Season Champion: 1 (2003)
Awards:
- Clair Bee Coach of the Year: 1 (2003)
- Big Ten Coach of the Year: 1 (2016)
- Conference USA Coach of the Year: 2 (2002, 2003)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
2018-2022 | Georgia |
2008-2017 | Indiana |
1999-2008 | Marquette |
1995-1999 | Michigan State (asst) |
1994-1995 | Pittsburgh (asst) |
1990-1994 | Western Kentucky (asst) |
1989-1990 | Michigan State (grad. asst) |
1987-1989 | Alma (asst) |
Tom Crean Facts
- Thomas Aaron Crean
- Born March 25, 1966
- Hometown: Mount Pleasant, Michigan
- Alma Mater: Central Michigan University (BA, 1989)
- Started coaching career as an assistant under Ralph Pim at D-III Alma College (MI) before spending one year as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under legendary head coach Jud Heathcote
- Worked as an assistant to Ralph Willard for four seasons at Western Kentucky and one more at Pittsburgh
- Came back to Michigan State in 1995 to work as an assistant for four seasons under new head coach Tom Izzo
- First head coaching position came in 1999 when he took over the Marquette program
- In nine seasons, Crean had a .664 winning percentage and led the Golden Eagles to five NCAA Tournaments, 3 NITs and a memorable run to the 2003 Final Four behind future NBA star Dwyane Wade
- Later inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame (class of 2022)
- Took over at scandal-plagued Indiana in 2008, following the resignation of previous coach Kelvin Sampson and an almost complete roster turnover
- The Hoosiers struggled during Crean’s first three years due to lack of playing experience and the ramifications from the violations of the previous staff
- Crean spurred success at Indiana by first winning on the recruiting trail, landing 2011 Indiana Mr. Basketball Cody Zeller, as well as key role players from across the country
- In his fourth season, the Hoosiers saw a 15-win improvement from the previous year and an impressive run to the 2012 Sweet Sixteen; the highlight of the season came in December, when Christian Watford hit a game-winning buzzer beater three to take down undefeated #1 Kentucky at Assembly Hall
- Returned to the Sweet Sixteen the following year and again in 2016; Crean named Big Ten COY in 2016
- Fired by Indiana in March 2017 following the Hoosiers’ opening round NIT loss
- Spent the 2017-18 season working for ESPN as an in-studio analyst and occasional in-game commentator
- Hired in March 2018 to be the new head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs
- Went just 47-75 in four seasons at the helm and was fired in March 2022
- Along with his wife, the former Joani Harbaugh, has three children
- Wife, Joani, is the daughter of Jack Harbaugh and sister to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and Michigan Wolverines head football coach Jim Harbaugh
Tom Crean Coaching Tree
- Amir Abdur-Rahim (South Florida, Kennesaw State)
- Brian Barone (SIU Edwardsville)
- Tim Buckley (Ball State)
- Dennis Gates (Missouri, Cleveland State)
- Jon Harris (SIU Edwardsville)
- Darrin Horn (Northern Kentucky, South Carolina, WKU)
- Tod Kowalczyk (Toledo, Green Bay)
- Steve McClain (UIC)
- Jean Prioleau (San Jose State)
- Joe Scott (Air Force)
- Bennie Seltzer (Evansville, Samford)
- Dwayne Stephens (Western Michigan)
- Brian Wardle (Bradley, Green Bay)
- Buzz Williams (Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Marquette)