After Georgia Bulldogs went 18-15 for the season and failed to reach any postseason competition, Mark Fox was fired as a head coach of the basketball program at the University of Georgia on 10 March. It took less than a week for Georgia to find his replacement, as they brought in former Marquette and Indiana coach Tom Crean. According to the reports, Crean signed a six-year deal. He was officially introduced on Thursday.
“Tom Crean is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball over the past two decades,” – said Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity in a statement. “His teams have consistently been participants in postseason play, and his players have been extremely successful in the classroom. He’s going to be a great fit for the University of Georgia. I’m extremely excited to have him leading Georgia Basketball into the future and to welcome his family into the Bulldog Nation.“
After serving as assistant coach at Western Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and Michigan State, Tom Crean got his first head coaching job with Marquette Golden Eagles. He spent nine years at Marquette University, making five NCAA Tournament appearances including one NCAA Final Four appearance. He developed several high-profile basketball players including Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade.
Crean then took the job with the Indiana Hoosiers in 2008 and held the position until 2017. During that time, he had four NCAA Tournament appearances and posted a 166–135 record. He was fired in March 2017 by Indiana and worked as ESPN’s analyst before taking the job with the Georgia Bulldogs.
“I am honored an humbled to join the University of Georgia family,” – said Crean. “I am sincerely grateful to President Morehead and Greg McGarity for an incredible opportunity. Make no mistake, this is a basketball program inside of a great university that can compete for championships doing it the right way.“