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Report: Georgia, former Indiana coach Tom Crean have “mutual interest”
By SDS Staff
Published:
After swinging and missing on Thad Matta, Georgia reportedly turned its attention to another former Big Ten coach to replace Mark Fox.
According to a report from USA Today’s Dan Wolken, Georgia and former Indiana coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean have “mutual interest” and they’re expected to meet as soon as today:
Sources: In the wake of getting turned down by Thad Matta, there was forward movement yesterday between Georgia and Tom Crean. Meeting expected as soon as today.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 15, 2018
That came out after reports surfaced on Wednesday that Crean met with Pitt officials earlier in the week to discuss its coaching vacancy. Crean was also named as a candidate at UConn, who fired Kevin Ollie.
Crean would bring plenty of experience to the Georgia position having been at Indiana from 2008-17.
The 51-year-old coach rebuilt the program after the Hoosiers were hit with devastating sanctions from the Kelvin Sampson era. In 9 seasons in Bloomington, Crean compiled a 166-135 record with 2 Big Ten regular season titles and 2 Sweet 16 appearances.
He was fired on the opening day of the NCAA Tournament last year, and transitioned well as an ESPN college basketball analyst during the 2017-18 season.
It remains to be seen if Crean would get a similar offer to the reported $16 million that Georgia offered Matta. Whatever the case, it sounds like Georgia could have its next coach hired by week’s end.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
