Crean has big plans for Dogs
ATHENS, Ga. — Tom Crean opened his first news conference as Georgia’s men’s basketball coach by talking for almost 27 minutes before fielding his first question.
First impressions were clear: The newest Bulldogs boss has a high-energy personality, and he’s enthusiastic about his job.
Crean, whose hire was announced Thursday night, spoke Friday afternoon with passion and at great length about his plans for building a championship contender at a school better known for its football success.
“The foundation is here,” Crean said. “We’ve just got to build it up.”
Crean, the former Indiana and Marquette coach, accepted the job without even visiting the campus. A phone conversation with Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity on Wednesday, followed by a six-hour visit Thursday with McGarity and University of Georgia president Jere Morehead at Crean’s home in Sarasota, Fla., sealed the agreement on both sides.
“It was evident,” McGarity said of Crean’s enthusiasm. “He was passionate about it. He had a lot of questions, and we had questions. It was much like today.”
Crean was hired only five days after Georgia fired Mark Fox and one day after former Ohio State coach Thad Matta turned down an offer from McGarity.
“Thad called and said, ‘Greg, I just can’t do it. I’m not ready to get back in it,’” McGarity said. “I about fainted.”
Instead of doing that, McGarity called Crean, whose interest was convincing.
“In his words, our position should be viewed as a goldmine destination,” McGarity said of the Georgia job.
Crean, who will turn 52 on March 25, has a six-year, $16 million contract. He was 356231 in 18 seasons at Marquette and Indiana from 1999 to 2017.
Marquette, led by Dwyane Wade, advanced to the 2003 Final Four under Crean’s guidance. Overall, his teams have made nine NCAA tournament appearances, including four trips to the Sweet 16.
“He has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead highly successful, elite programs on and off the court,” McGarity said. “And I have no doubt that under his leadership, the University of Georgia will experience new levels of success.”
Postseason success has been rare for the Bulldogs, who earned only two NCAA bids in Fox’s nine years. Georgia won its only Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 1990, and its only Final Four appearance came in 1983.
Crean said he sees a program “that can compete and play for national championships, can compete for conference championships, can compete for any championships.”
He said he will build the team with a “foundation of enthusiasm and energy and determination.”
Crean was 166-135 as Indiana’s coach from 2008 to 2017. After a 28-66 record his first three seasons, Indiana was 13869 in his final six years, including Big Ten championships in 2013 and 2016. He was fired after the 2016-17 season.
Speaking of that exit from Indiana, Crean said he has learned “when one door closes, another one can open. And this door … was in a class by itself because of what is capable here, what can be done here, what has been done in the past.”