Tom Crean should elevate Georgia basketball program to new heights
The Georgia Bulldogs are no longer messing around, finally showing full commitment to their men’s basketball program, with the hiring Tom Crean.
The Georgia Bulldogs are going all-in, putting the final touches on the hiring of Tom Crean as their new head basketball coach — according to ESPN’s ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Former head coach Mark Fox was shown the door earlier last Saturday, given nine years to turn the Bulldogs into an SEC power. For one reason or another, he wasn’t able to get the job done. Insert Tom Crean, stage right.
Tom Crean is finalizing an agreement to become the next coach at Georgia, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 15, 2018
After a year sabbatical, of sorts, Crean is back in the coaching saddle, ready to take Georgia hoops to the next level. The Bulldogs hit a home run with hiring Crean, who are looking to take that next step into the upper-tier of the SEC standings.
Crean is the latest in a series of quality hires by the SEC showing they’re more than just a football and baseball conference.
With Tom Crean's hire at Georgia, number of current SEC coaches who have been to a Final Four is now five: Crean, Calipari, Howland, Barnes, Martin. Ties Big 12 for most. ACC has four, Big Ten has two, Big East and Pac-12 have one each.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 16, 2018
Unlike coaching the Indiana Hoosiers, who fired him following the 2016 campaign, he’ll have much more wiggle room in Athens — with expectations not nearly as high in Bloomington.
Crean and his Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular season in 2015, advancing to the Sweet 16 in the process. But 2016 was the nail in his coaching coffin after an NIT appearance sealed his fate.
His coaching resume features some notable achievements not seen by a Georgia coach in ages.
- Overall coaching record: 356–231 (.606 winning percentage)
- Nine NCAA Tournament appearances (11–9 record)
- Final Four in 2002-2003 with Marquette Golden Eagles — recruiting Dwayne Wayne for that team
- Conference USA regular season championship with Marquette (2003)
- 2-time Big Ten regular-season titles (2013, 2016)
- 2-time Conference-USA Coach of the Year (2002-2003)
- Conference-USA Clair Bee Coach of the Year (2003)
- Big Ten Coach of the Year (2016)
Unlike with Indiana, those efforts are no doubt appreciated in Georgia. With a top-notch coach, the Bulldogs will hang the likes of John Calipari at Kentucky, Cuonzo Martin at Mizzou, Bruce Pearl at Auburn, and Rick Barnes at Tennesee.
Georgia’s last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2015, and previous NCAA tournament victory claimed in 2003 — later vacated by the NCAA. 2007-8 was the last time the Bulldogs boasted an SEC tournament title, with their last regular season crown a longer drought (1990).
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With Georgia showing a bit of progress in 2017-18, Tom Crean will be the x-factor, bringing them back to the NCAA tournament as early as next season. Who knows, the Dawgs may hang a few SEC titles in the rafters as well. It’s a long time coming in Athens, and the fans are more than ready — with the Crean hiring a step in that very direction.