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Indiana Hoosiers AD gives Tom Crean dreaded vote of confidence

By Patrick Schmidt

Dec 31, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean watches action as Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles stands in the background at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean watches action as Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Tim Miles stands in the background at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tom Crean’s future is murky at best at Indiana, but he did get a vote of confidence from Hoosiers athletic director on Friday that serves as more of a warning than anything.

The Indiana Hoosiers backed their way into the NCAA Tournament this season after going 5-9 since the team’s 19-point win at home over No. 13 Maryland on Jan. 22.

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Things were especially bad in the last weeks of the year with a bid to the Big Dance on the line as Crean led Indiana to losses in four of the team’s last five games in the regular season and Big Ten conference tournament.

Nevertheless, the team was relieved on Selection Sunday when they got the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region and a second round game against No. 7 Wichita State. That berth led some to speculate that his job was safe but after a five-point loss to the Shockers, his job status was in doubt for next season.

Finishing the season on a 5-10 stretch is unacceptable at most programs, but especially at a prestigious program like Indiana where Big Ten titles and deep runs in the NCAA Tournament are expected.

Despite the struggles, Indiana athletic director Fred Glass gave him a vote of confidence on Friday.

“Because I believe in the team he has assembled and is assembling, his leadership of it and their ability to start achieving our program goals, I continue to support Tom Crean as our coach,” Glass said, via the Indianapolis Star.

In seven seasons with the Hoosiers he has a 121-111 record, one Big Ten title and made it to the Sweet Sixteen in two of his three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Since winning the Big Ten regular season title three seasons ago, Indiana is only 37-29 and 16-20 in the Big Ten.

“While from a team perspective, there were certainly some positives this year, from a program perspective, we are not where we want to be, Glass’ statement read.

On one hand this can be interpreted as a vote of confidence from Glass, but on the other hand this could be a final warning that if Indiana doesn’t win 25 games, finish in the top-four of the conference and make it to at least the Sweet Sixteen that he could be fired.

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