Evaluating Tom Crean needs to wait until the season ends, but here are the metrics for retaining & firing him

by Kent Sterling

Indiana is still playing, and as long as that is the case, judgments on the future leader of the program are premature.  Tom Crean is the coach, and as long as there are games to play, IU has a chance to meet expectations.

Indiana is still playing, and as long as that is the case, judgments on the future leader of the program are premature. Tom Crean is the coach, and as long as there are games to play, IU has a chance to meet expectations.

Tom Crean and his Indiana Hoosiers team deserve the opportunity to complete the full season before anyone, including athletic director Fred Grass, define the team’s body of work as a failure – or a success.

Strange things happen in college basketball.  The Hoosiers can shoot it, and when you can shoot it, a chance exists.  That’s all Indiana might need to win a couple of games at the Big Ten Tournament and save its candidacy for an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.  And then, two wins take the Hoosiers to the Sweet Sixteen – as far as they have gone in the NCAA’s since 2002.

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At that point, the season would have to be evaluated as a success, and how can firing Tom Crean even be considered?  Many in Indiana have tired of Crean, and have no inclination to view Crean positively regardless of the final chapters of this odd season, but Glass is not among them I assure you.

Let’s take off crimson colored glasses for a minute and pinpoint the criteria that should be used to assess the effectiveness of any coach of Indiana’s marquee athletic program, and the highest paid public employee in the state of Indiana.

1 – Comparison with other coaches in the Big Ten – In a head-to-head battle between IU’s coach and every other coach in the Big Ten, who’s better?  In a conference with Bo Ryan, Mark Turgeon, Tom Izzo, Thad Matta, Matt Painter, John Beilein, and seven others, lodging near the top of the list is tough but necessary or Indiana is doomed to mediocrity.

2 – Ability to recruit Indiana – I’m sorry to those who see Indiana as a national program who should be able to recruit the finest talent in the country, that’s not who IU has shown itself to be – not today, not ever.  When Indiana is best, it chooses players from among the best in its home state, and augments with those from neighboring states (illinois and Ohio).  If kids from Indiana choose to leave the state to play, why would a rational kid from California, Texas, Florida, or Massachusetts choose to come to Bloomington.  This isn’t Kentucky, and it shouldn’t be.  During eras when Indiana kids excel, there is plenty of talent to stock a potential champion.

3 – Ability to out-coach fans – In Indiana, this is harder than in most places.  One of the cruelest legacies of Bob Knight’s 29 years in Bloomington was his generosity with a vast curriculum of basketball knowledge.  Indiana fans know more about defense than the majority of high school coaches outside Indiana, and a desire to see fundamentals executed properly is strong.  If a coach can’t strategize and teach basketball well enough to satisfy fans, he is doomed.

4 – Academics & graduation – Many from outside Indiana believe the blather from IU fans about grades and degrees to be hubristic claptrap that is waived as long as Indiana wins.  Not for those who enjoyed the years when banners were hung while classes were attended.  College basketball cannot be a minor league feeder system for the NBA regardless of banners, not at Indiana.  Indiana University is a school first, a basketball program second, and players need to reflect that standard.  Winning without a culture it validates is hollow, and Indiana fans won’t tolerate it.

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5 – Winning – Amassing victories is a result, not a trait.  If the first four criteria are met, winning should be a given.  There are fans who work backwards though.  They want the wins, and have no interest in the methodology behind them.  These are the people who still believe Kelvin Sampson was a good hire.  Without winning, all the magnificent culture in the world is meaningless.  Sad, but true.  If a coach can manage to fulfill #2 and #3, he is going to win at Indiana, and he will be evaluated as a winner in #1.  The kids earn #4 as compensation for their effort, even though they might see it as a penance while at IU.

As you ponder the future of the Indiana program, and the reasonability of retaining Crean as it’s leader, do what Glass does and pragmatically assess his work through whatever criteria you feel are appropriate.  Mine are above.  Share yours via a comment, and after Indiana’s season ends, let’s run our own system of checks and balances to see if Indiana has the right leader.

66 thoughts on “Evaluating Tom Crean needs to wait until the season ends, but here are the metrics for retaining & firing him

  1. Dayton Dave

    A very decent list of criteria for evaluating the the IU basketball coach. I got a kick out of the 3rd on the list…outcoaching the fans. Well put! But, it is true. The coach needs to have the ability to explain his methods to the fans.

    Thanks for the article. I haven’t been calling for him to leave until just this year. I don’t blame Crean solely for the loss against Syracuse a few years back. Hulls was hurt. Yogi was a freshman. Syracuse was very good. But, the big wheel has spun enough to be able to see clearly what we have at IU. I understand that one might think it is premature during the season to toss Crean under the bus. But, I believe that he has been there for a while. He could have crawled out at any time but didn’t. With the worst defense in the B1G, and the weave, the cards have already been dealt. If IU hits 70% of it’s threes for the rest of the year, then Crean buys another couple of years, but don’t bet on it. Glass may not pull the trigger at the end of the season, but, it will be primarily because he has to have a very good candidate all but locked in.

    Reply
  2. Matterhorn

    Crean couldn’t “outcoach” the fans at Marquette go read some old blogs from their fans, Crean has changed nothing. To say it’s the Indiana’s fans fault because they know too much about basketball is really a joke Kent. Anyone knows to block their man out on a defensive rebound. Anyone knows you help out on defense when a player is beat. Anyone knows you don’t take a player out who is on fire. Anyone knows to move your feet on defense and don’t reach. Anyone knows the concept of ball-you-man. Come on really Kent, the fans “know” too much get real. Anyone knows it’s bull-sh-t to give out a scholly then take it away when a better player comes around. The list goes on and on.

    Reply
    1. kentsterling Post author

      The point is that a coach needs to outreach the fans – not that it’s the fan’s fault for knowing the coach isn’t doing the right things. Not sure I understand exactly what you are saying.

      Reply
  3. Matterhorn

    Listen like most IU fans I’m just sick and tired of all these excuses. If Hanner can make a left handed rebound jam while starting at the free throw line then surely he can be taught to play good defense and block out on rebounds. I just don’t believe this crap. It’s not about ability or being a top 75 player it’s about being in the right spot and making the right fundamental play. If a player is being taught these things but continues to make mistakes well don’t play them, the results are still going to be the same.

    Reply
    1. Rick

      After listening to all the local talk shows today, it appears that Fred Glass had a meeting with all his lieutenants this last weekend and showed them the game plan – I defend Tom Crean on the national media, you guys hit it hard locally. Crean isn’t going anywhere, any body associated with IU basketball doesn’t want to lose their paycheck.

      Reply
      1. Matterhorn

        What are you saying that if Crean is fired a bunch of people get fired too? Who are Glass’s “lieutenants” a bunch of lawyers I suppose. “anybody associated with IU basketball doesn’t want to lose their paycheck” what does that mean. They can’t keep him forever, well maybe they can given those clowns down there. What’s the Glass game plan-keep missing the NCAA tournament but save our jobs?? Pretty funny Rick.

        Reply
        1. Rick

          All I am saying, is if Crean gets fired it will make a lot of people look stupid at IU, or as you say look like a bunch of clowns. Also, the talk show hosts, journalist etc don’t want to get on the wrong side of Glass, so they have become yes men. I don’t think Glass will throw Crean under the bus. Do you really see IU having the guts or money to do what Michigan did, fire both AD and football coach? Remember the attorney joke, attorney’s know everything about everything, just ask them! attorneys know everythin

          Reply
          1. kentsterling Post author

            I think you underestimate Glass. He has never been a jerk when it comes to the media. He has always told me that he understands negative reaction. Passion is what’s important. Indifference is what he wants to avoid. In many long conversations, he has never asked for specific coverage. He’s presented positive information, but never asked for a specific story or slant to be used.

      2. kentsterling Post author

        I don’t believe that to be the case for reasons best left unwritten. There are no marching orders for dealing with media as far as I know – and I would know.

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        1. Billy

          Fred Glass is right in the middle of damage control central. His football coach has a lot of negative rumors floating around about his behavior, and we all know that Wilson has yet to put even close to a winner on the field…and he’s Freddie’s boy. Fred was suckered into giving Crean a huge extension and one of the most asinine buy-out’s ever written and agreed to, and what’s Crean done lately? Two top five draft picks, as season long #1 ranking, and he can’t coach against a zone he saw how many times at Marquette. And this season, when his team came out like gangbusters the first half against Our Mission of the Sisters of the Benevolent type of teams and was destroying everyone except some unknown school from Washington everyone goes, “Wow, he’s got a great team of shooters”. Now, when it’s evident that against competition like Northwester, that same team can’t play a lick of defense and for all intent and purpose has basically laid down and quite the last half of the season, losing 8-12 and their last three at home….something IU NEVER EVER DOES. I’m guessing the chant directed toward Riley in his HS game over the weekend will be the last straw for the Crean family and they will move on to another location. I’m of the opinion it’s about damned time for Fred to step up to the plate and at least not take a called third strike with the bases loaded.

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          1. Rick

            You said it the way it really is!!! I agree, I am so frustrated with the excuses about the football and basketball program and how smart the AD is. Where is the president of the university?

          2. kentsterling Post author

            You had me interested until the comment about Riley Crean. The behavior of the fans when he entered the game was beyond disgraceful. To refer to him as “Little Tommy Jr.” reduces your comment to a base level I’m embarrassed appears here.

          3. Billy

            Kent, sorry if it offended you but one has to expect that to happen knowing the immense dislike for Tom Crean. Having never seen the kid play (I assume you have) and knowing his father was not much and didn’t play, is it a situation where a HS coach is doing Tom Crean a favor or is his kid worthy of making that roster. Again, I’m sorry and I don’t approve of the chant, but when Pop is making over three mil a year and has screwed up one of the storied programs in history, things happen and HS kids are really pretty in tune and pretty intelligent for the most part. Folks should be happy Crean’s not at UK because I’ll guarantee you that that chant would be the least of the problems. After I posted it, I was going to change that but you have no “edit function”.

          4. kentsterling Post author

            I’ve changed it for you. If you would like changes beyond what I’ve executed, let me know.

          5. billy

            Thanks for changing it. I believe Tom Crean is in the process of leaving IU this year. After the Northwestern game, which I think IU loses, an announcement will be made that Tom Crean is leaving for another position or he’s leaving for personal reasons. It’s time for the Crean family to head back to Michigan to be close to Jim Harbaugh. From what I’m hearing there is enough turmoil in the locker room at Assembly Hall, many of the players just want the madness to end. Blackmon, Yogi, Troy, Holt, Perea may all be gone next year as the train wreck that is IU basketball continues to derail.

          6. kentsterling Post author

            Sadly, whether it’s Tom Crean or a new man, the challenge of finding continuity will continue to be difficult. Sadly, the only coach of the last four who was committed to recruiting to and enforcing a culture was Dan Dakich, and he was only given seven games to right the ship.

          7. billy

            Kent, I thought Dakich would have been a great hire. Ethical, Hoosier born and bred, and he hates Bob Knight though if it weren’t for Knight he’d be a second shift manager at McDonalds in the Region somewhere.

          8. kentsterling Post author

            Here is where I disagree about Dan and most of the other Indiana grads who played for Knight. If they hadn’t gone to IU, they would have been successful elsewhere. Knight didn’t program a magic code into his players; he recruited good kids who became good young men – as they would have had they played for Gene Keady, Denny Crum, or Gene Bartow.

  4. j

    I DOUBT ANYBODY WANTS TOM CREAN GONE MORE THAN ME BUT THAT CHANT WAS CLASSLESS. IT CROSSED SOOO MANY LINES.

    1—–play defense. this statement stands alone.

    2—–be able to adjust scheme to players.

    3—–ability to recruit the best players, not necessarily the highest rated. ala bo ryan

    4—–must own the team and command a level of genuine respect whose players would go to war.

    5—–graduate at or above the average rate of big ten coaches.

    6—–win. never miss an ncaa tournament. a final four every 4 years. tom izzo does it.

    Reply
  5. j

    you are going to see the product on the football field this year. they will go to a bowl game. they are going to beat a couple of teams that no one sees coming. the defense is going to start turning the ball over and you are going to see some of the nastiest hits you’ve ever seen delivered by an Indiana player. they are bigger stronger faster and they wont have to think as much on defense. and when the season is over you can look at the depth chart and realize it wasn’t a one trick pony. it takes a hell of a lot longer to build a football program than turn around a basketball program and bill lynch left quite a mess.

    Reply
    1. Billy

      J, we’ve heard that for how many years now? Let’s see…U of M is bigger, stronger, faster with Harbaugh at the helm. Then you have OSU, MSU, Rutgers, and the rest save Purdue who have all gotten better. My guess, IU might get four wins.

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      1. j

        I understand the skepticism. I really do. when sudfeld got hurt we basically sent a 170 lb fifth string qb out to replace him. had Roberson or Coffman not transferred we would have won 6 bplus games last year.

        Reply
        1. billy

          But what happened that those kids moved on? It’s called WILSON. Don’t be disappointed when the four wins is all you get.

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          1. The KAP

            Billy , I think every time you start to make a good point , a dumb personally toned remark ruins it every time ..J is on to something ,esp about Football..

            Wilson probably wins 7 last year with an actual passing game in the 2nd half of the schedule , and ruins Ohio State’s NC season on top of that(likely could have finished the come back to beat Iowa & beats PSU) ..We dumbfounded J.T. Barrett and their back saved them late since our D was worn out from the offense squandering opportunities to score off turnovers……He wins no less than 7 this year with a passing game and a little better defense than last season.IU is the MOST experienced team in the conference from a games started and class balance standpoint ..Last year we were both the 4th most experienced and 6th youngest .This season seems to be the sweet spot in that context since we found what appears to be a solid replacement for Coleman and return pretty much everyone else…..Given how close we have been to turning the corner it likely comes together in 2015 with hard work and a little luck avoiding key injuries…If the trajectory does not continue to rise due to the QB situation,or some other major area of regression, then perhaps a call for Wilson’s job is warranted..

            That defense although statistically bad started to stiffen up for longer stretches and started getting takeaways..The firepower and offensive chemistry was not there to convert more TO’s into points without Sudfeld…It (the improvement on defense ) appears largely obscured by the fact our offense had to completely reorient itself after losing Nate…We were MORE predictable after losing Nate ,than ANY D-1 school and our line still allowed Coleman to finish over 2000 yds..Every team we played saw our game plan coming but it had to be vanilla for Zander.. Getting back to the point where we could beat Purdue took time,but in that game where we had some success extending drives, the defense played start to finish solid and Purdue has a respectable offense.They had a surprisingly strong year (going into last year they were said to be a year away from even being competitive at all in the B1G again) – end with a disappointing L to us in B-town ..Our D had a lot to do with that but they didnt have to be on the field for 3/4 of the game…Watch those games again..Thank goodness for DVR .. .

          2. j

            those kids left because Wilson was honest with themand told them sudfeld was the guy. I don’t fault them for wanting to play more and go elsewhere. but you cant fault Wilson for being honest. that’s integrity. its not like he creaned them. stay tuned billy because if you want to see Indiana football succeed you are in for a treat this year. remember how good the hoosiers looked last year versus mizzou? get used to it.

          3. Jeff Gregory

            Wilson should have never closed the competition in camp. Why would any coach do that? You want the best guy; don’t give other players incentive to NOT try or in this case, move on. Stupid move.

            Aside from that, I think Wilson is heading the program in the right direction.

          4. kentsterling Post author

            If the deal was done, Wilson owed those kids the truth – which was delivered. I applaud him for making a call that gave two good kids a chance to play. He could have tantalized them with tales of a chance they didn’t have and won another game or two. That he gave Tre and Cam an accurate assessment is a move that Indiana fans should expect from its leaders.

          5. Jeff Gregory

            Why would the deal be done, Kent? That doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know too many coaches so sure of themselves and the players on their team that they would be able to make that concrete of a decision. It would have been IMPOSSIBLE for Roberson or Coffman to beat Sudfeld out?

            Sudfeld wasn’t THAT great when he was healthy this past year. All Wilson did was cheat Roberson and/or Coffman an opportunity to play in the Big Ten and possibly lead the team to a bowl.

          6. billy

            J, I’ve heard that same chit about Crean. I heard it about the guy before Wilson, and the guy before him who’s only legacy is a big ugly rock.

            IU football will continue to suck swampwater and Wilson will continue to be a jerk to all around him. Even the bars in Bloomington are getting tired of his “escapades” and Glass has been told to reign him in.

          7. kentsterling Post author

            Your anecdotal information about Wilson is dated, and Wilson has grown into the position at IU. No longer what some perceived to be a jerk. He’s a good guy in the department and to the media. I like the way he deals with the players and how they treat him. From my perspective, there is a lot of mutual respect.

          8. Billy

            Kent, your words about the “revised and updated” Kevin Wilson aren’t what I’m hearing from those in Bloomington. He’s still a jerk, he’s still got a problem with certain liquids, and according to those who should know has a problem with cheerleaders. I’m willing to place a friendly wager about IU winning seven games and them spoiling OSU’s season. Get your wallet out and let’s have at it.

          9. kentsterling Post author

            I never said or wrote I believe they are going to win seven or spoil OSU’s season. I write what I see and hear first hand. Never seen Kevin do anything but treat people well over the past two years, and while I heard stories from solid sources about issues early in his tenure at Indiana, I haven’t heard anything but good stuff about Kevin over the last two years. Until I see different, I believe my experiences.

  6. Philboyd Studge

    Kent,

    Your list was short the most important criterion: Fred Glass idiotically signed Crean to the worst contract since the Indians gave up Manhattan for a pocket full of beads, and he has no idea how to come up with the $12 million buy-out. Everything else is just sophistry.

    Imagine Indiana could go after the hottest young or not-so-young coach in America tomorrow with no financial consequence but getting it done: Either of the Millers, Marshall, Ben Jacobson at Northern Iowa, Shaka Smart, maybe even Tony Bennett, and on and on. Then ask yourself under those circumstances would Crean be the best option for getting IU to be a consistent Top Ten program. Once you’ve answered that question, you’ve isolated the ONLY factor: the catastrophic buy-out.

    Reply
    1. kentsterling Post author

      I’ve been told by people who know that the buyout is not a problem. I’m going to wait until we know what the outcome of the season is – not what we guess it might be – to make any broad, partly informed declarations about the basketball program.

      Reply
      1. Billy

        Kent, for the first time in a long time…Knight, Sampson, Davis, Lynch buyout’s….the IU Athletic Department is in the black. And it’s been told to Fred very straight and to the point that the money to rid IU of the Crean plague is there for the asking. But the point is that Crean wants to leave as does his wife, and I believe negotiations are almost complete for that to happen.

        Reply
        1. kentsterling Post author

          If Tom wants out, I’m sure Indiana would be happy to sit down, but Crean has never been much of a quitter. If nothing else, he gets huge credit for running through whatever wall necessary to reach his career goal.

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  7. Mr. Walker

    Your points were very well stated Mr. Sterling and a good definition of Indiana basketball. Mr. Crean is coaching at a school with great basketball history including five national championships, excellent facilities, great fan base and in a basketball state that loves the game and produces outstanding players. Those advantages should result in teams among the top 20 year in and year out, in the top ten a couple times every five years, and a “contender” for the final four every five years. If anyone says that is unreasonable that is exactly what they were for many years and right now several other schools are doing just that with less than the advantages you find in Bloomington. But those kind of results requires one absolute, can not do without requirement. You must have one of the country’s 20 best coaches in charge and to me that is the biggest challenge that is facing Coach Crean. He is not the terrible coach some are voicing but it is difficult to see him among the best 20 or even 30 in the country. I would like to be wrong because my degree is from IU and I have been a fan for fifty plus years, long enough to know that you want all coaches to succeed, not fail. It is his level of success that is bringing the heat right now, but I will still be shocked if he is not the IU coach come next season.

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  8. j

    actually I heard that Alabama was going to fire their coach. crean was going to Alabama. billy Donovan is going to be the first target for crean replacement. kinda expect crean to announce his resignation during next weeks crean show. this appeases the angry fan base takes the pressure off the kids and allows everybody to leave it all on the court and the angry fans to once agaibn unite behind their team and their coachand everybody lives happily ever after. all pure speculation. mostly.

    Reply
    1. billy

      J, I think you’re on the right track. I too have heard “Bama but doubt that will happen. As for TC announcing his resignation on his show, that won’t happen either. His ego would only allow that to happen with a full blown presser with ESPN and the others present.

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      1. j

        I think this is a situation where you want as little media as possible. I think he wants to do nthis on radio with no cameras. ego would prevent him from doing this with a full press conference. if crean stays I will continue to campaign against him. if he goes I would be more than happy to buy him a beer and thank him for his effort. but tom crean if youre reading this: please go to Alabama.

        Reply
        1. kentsterling Post author

          If Crean resigns (and I cannot imagine that happening), he will claim victory as he does it. Nothing wrong with that at all.

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          1. j

            I agree. we are better off now than when he took over, yet trending downward. money talks. if the buyout is not a problem neither is giving a record breaking contract based greatly on incentives and ;performance. there is a coach out there that can get the job done. throw money at him. throw more money at him. and then throw money at him again.

    2. dee

      Alabama has fired coach Grant and Coach Crean is on the list of potential replacement coaches. I’m curious to see how this plays out. Billy Donovan come on down!

      Reply
  9. dee

    I think coach Crean has had enough time to show what we can expect from him at IU. After the season is over I hope we get a new coach.

    Reply
  10. Matterhorn

    Kent, I once again almost put my car in the ditch when I heard your “would you rather” skit last night. Would you rather coach Purdue for 1.5 mil or IU for 3.0 mil…….That’s too funny Kent. Yea I would rather marry Doris Burke then Erin Andrews because Erin Andrews might cheat on me…..so lame Kent.
    BTW average NFL head coaching job is 4.8million/year. Tom Crean 3.2 million. Frank Vogel salary-a little over $2.0 million. Just to put things in perspective. I really can’t even believe there is a discussion of his employment at this point. Also I’m getting so tired of the IU fans being vilified as the real enemy here…..ITS THE FANS that allow there to be a $3.0 million dollar coaching job at IU. It’s the fans that filled Assembly Hall when Tommy was posting sub 5 win seasons in the Big Ten, give me a break Kent. You know what you are getting into when you take the job remember Kent “It’s Indiana, it’s Indiana.”

    Reply
    1. kentsterling Post author

      And that’s why I wouldn’t take the job. Your analogy was very funny, but spurious, unless Erin is a straight up hag when the makeup is stripped – and she is not. Indiana is more like the girl you meet in the bar at closing time time after a night of shots. Not only is she unattractive, but psychotic. I love Indiana Basketball, but if Fred called me today and offered $3M to take that job, I would laugh, pass, and offer to buy him a beer at Nick’s instead.

      Reply
      1. Jeff Gregory

        Heh And I would take it for 100K. Sure it can go bad like it has for Crean, but just the chance to coach at IU is worth the risk. Even if it was a disaster, time passes. I mean Lee Corso isn’t smarting over his IU tenure, and Jimmy Carter is pretty dang popular now.

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      2. j

        Indiana is definitely a hot girl. definitely. I mean…look at the banners on her! and I wouldn’t say psychotic. maybe a little crazy but with a girl this hot…with those banners…and that set of facilities…its the kind of crazy that just makes everything else that much better. when she is winning. if you keep her happy and keep winning…you’ve got the hottest craziest in a good way girl in the ncaa. just keep winning. suddenly your the envy of every coach in America.

        Reply
        1. kentsterling Post author

          Yeah, but that hot babe is dressed like an extra in a Huey Lewis and the News video – circa 1987.

          Reply
          1. j

            that’s a negative there kent. remember that magical season two years ago? prior to the sweet sixteen loss of course. we were winning and Indiana basketball was the best housewife on the block. smokin hot and crazy in a good way. the next coach just has to win.

  11. JFunk

    IU has become a mediocre program and lost its shine. It seems to me Glass owns as much of the problem as Crean…perhaps more. The more I hear Glass explain his reasons for not discharging Crean the more I’m convinced he’s lowered the bar for what’s considered accepetable performance. The fans are loyal and love the program, its history, and its identity in college basketball (or at lesat what it used to be). I serioiusly doubt Nick Saban and Alabama’s AD have their bar set as low as Glass/Crean do for IU. Low expectations equal low results. The fans expect and deserve better, much better. My vote it to show both Crean and Glass the door and find people who will once again raise the bar and demand results. AND quit offering these ridiculous contract extensions until a coach has proven themself over time.

    Reply
    1. kentsterling Post author

      Fred is trying to do the right thing in the right way while letting the growing chorus of fans who are disenchanted with Crean know that he hears them. That’s a tough line to walk. If a Brad Stevens type candidate has no interest in the job, what is Fred supposed to do – fire Crean in a pique of anger and then hire a potentially lesser coach?

      Who’s the guy that Fred is supposed to bring in for that job that will unite the fan base and bring success? Archie Miller? Bob McKillop? Zach Spiker? Randy Wittman? Tim Miles? Who is the guy that you want to replace Crean?

      If you create more uncertainty and angst with the replacement than exists with Crean, what’s the point?

      I’m not saying don’t make a change, but the upgrade had better be worth the initial chaos that change brings.

      Reply
      1. Jeff Gregory

        Obviously, Glass should be using back channels to gauge the interest of potential candidates – and he may be doing that right now. As Dakich has said many times, it isn’t hard to find a good candidate to coach IU. Coaches are chomping at the bit to coach in the Big Ten at a basketball-first school. Mark Few is the exception and not the rule, I think.

        I know that there is a lot of pressure at IU, but any coach worth his salt believes he is the answer to almost any situation. It is that kind of confidence that is needed to lead a successful program. As a former HS coach, I know it is in our blood. 😉

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        1. Eric

          I have to agree with Kent on this one. Sure it’s easy to find someone willing to take the job, but finding a great coach is needle in a haystack territory. Knowledge, hard work, and a touch of creative is enough for a good coach. The difference between good and great, though is a whole bunch of intangibles that don’t exactly show up in an interview – and don’t always transfer from one setting to another. Kent’s comment here is right on point: any coaching change is a big risk because it destabilizes the program. Given that IU basketball is still in a fragile state, destabilizing it (again) could be catastrophic – particularly if the replacement isn’t any more successful than Crean. Any change needs to be handled deliberately and with extreme caution or it runs the risk of further alienating the fans. (For the record, I’m a Crean supporter so I’m not advocating for his ouster. Just commenting on the situation.)

          Reply
      2. Rick

        It’s not that difficult, just go back and hire a decent person first, like coach Hoepner, the fans and players will do the rest.
        Butler figured it out. The problem is, the top brass at IU are so plastic, they have no idea what a decent person is!
        I don’t see IU sports ever changing until the whole culture changes. An old client of mine who owned a successful company, once told me, he didn’t make all that money, his employees and associates made it for him.

        Reply
        1. kentsterling Post author

          Not sure why you believe that your beliefs are not shared by Fred Glass, who hires good people.

          Reply

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