BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After nine seasons leading Indiana University's men's basketball team, Tom Crean was fired Thursday after missing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in his tenure.
IU athletic director Fred Glass said he decided to make the change after having several meetings with Crean.
The 50-year-old coach had three years remaining on his contract, and the move comes a little more than three months before his buyout would have dropped from $4 million to $1 million.
Crean is being let go "without cause," which means he'll receive all of the benefits incl $4M buyout, spread out over time, plus pay. #IUBB
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) March 16, 2017
But with so much angst among fans, Glass couldn't wait that long.
"Tom Crean brought us through one of the most challenging periods in IU basketball history, led his players through many successes in the classroom and on the court and represented our university with class and integrity," said Glass.
Indiana entered the season with three legitimate pro prospects, were considered one of the Big Ten's preseason favorites and rose as high as No. 3 in November when they upset Kansas and North Carolina. That all ended after Nebraska broke their 26-game home-court winning streak in late December.
The Hoosiers lost their best defender, OG Anunoby, to a season-ending knee injury and their top scorer, James Blackmon Jr., for three games with a leg injury.
The mounting losses were compounded by a 30-point blowout at Michigan, a season sweep by rival Purdue and then the NIT loss to Georgia Tech.
That was enough for the fans, and for Glass.
"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."
Crean finished his career at Indiana with a record of 166-135. Under his tenure, IU won two outright Big Ten titles and played in four NCAA Tournaments, but his team never advanced beyond the Sweet 16.
He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2016.
A national search for Crean’s replacement has begun, according to Glass.
"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," Glass said.
Fred listed a number of attributes he's looking for in the next #IUBB HC. Oddly enough, Crean fit every one of them.
— Dave Furst (@DaveFurst) March 16, 2017
Watch Thursday afternoon's press conference below:
