Indiana now has a vacancy at its head coach position.
The program announced Thursday that has fired Tom Crean after his nine years at the helm. Indiana owes Crean $4 million for terminating his contract prior to July 1.
"Tom Crean brought us through one of the most challenging periods in IU basketball history, led his players to many successes in the classroom and on the court and represented our university with class and integrity," IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said in a statement. "While winning two outright Big Ten titles in five years and being named Big Ten Coach of the Year, Tom worked tirelessly to develop great young men and successful teams. However, ultimately, we seek more consistent, high levels of success, and we will not shy away from our expectations."
Crean took over the program in April 2008 following sanctions handed out by the NCAA after rules violations by former head coach Kelvin Sampson. Crean compiled a 166-135 in nine seasons in Bloomington, including three Sweet Sixteen appearances and two outright Big Ten regular season titles.
However, the program's free-fall from a No. 3 ranking in the AP Top 25 in November to a No. 3 seed and first round exit in the NIT led to increased fan frustration with the program.
"Tom is a good man and a good coach and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for his many positive contributions to Indiana basketball," Glass said. "We wish him well."
In the same statement, Glass said the IU Board of Trustees and university president Michael A. McRobbie have given him sole authority to lead the national search to find Crean's replacement.
No formal search or advisory committee will be formed, but Glass said he will "consult with basketball experts from around the country and throughout the State of Indiana, including many former Indiana University basketball players."
"The expectations for Indiana University basketball are to perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship—and more after that," Glass said. "We will identify and recruit a coach who will meet these expectations."
This story will be updated.
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