Indiana University fired men’s basketball coach Tom Crean on Thursday afternoon after nine years at the helm.
Locals reacted to the recent change in Bloomington:
“I feel Coach Crean built the program up and back to prominence after the mess it was in following the Kelvin Sampson era. He definitely had his strengths and weakness as a coach. I hope the next coach can recruit the state of Indiana better and allow IU to be a perennial power and NCAA tournament team. Coach Crean will land on his feet somewhere and likely be successful going forward.”
-Kyle Coates, Seymour, 2005 IU alum
“For where the program was after the Sampson debacle, I do believe Coach Crean was the right guy to get us out of that mess; his enthusiasm and energy were essential at that time. I however think he had maxed out his potential with Indiana basketball. I’d really like to see the best players in the state wearing Cream and Crimson again. I don’t like seeing Macintosh at Northwestern, or Swanigan at Purdue, etc. Coach Knight, love or hate him, won with Indiana kids. I would like to see the next Indiana head coach win the state of Indiana in terms of recruiting, because it has been proven Indiana kids have the ability to complete nationally every year, which is ultimately what the IU fan base desires.”
-Tyler Phillips, Seymour boys basketball coach, 2007 IU alum.
“It was time. Crean did a great job of getting our program back on the right track, and he did it the right way. No violations, etc. With that being said, he hasn’t done a good job of getting the top recruits in the state of Indiana. I’m hoping it’s (Steve) Alford!”
-Jason Longmeier, Seymour girls basketball coach, 2000 IU alum.
“I feel like this was the right move for IU. Hoosier fans expect to be an elite program and not a bottom feeder of the Big Ten. As for Tom Crean as a person, IU should thank him for the way he has handled the men’s basketball program off the court. Molding young boys into men and showing good sportsmanship along the way. Bottom line is that no coach is perfect and now we’ll have to wait and see who gets their shot next.”
–Mason Boicourt, Crothersville, 29
“I felt Tom Crean was good for Indiana basketball. He was ethical and a class act. As in all organizations, it comes a time for growth and success to occur changes have to be made. Fred Glass made the best decision for the future of Indiana basketball.”
–Mark Hays, Seymour, 61
