Indiana makes Crean its basketball coach

BLOOMINGTON, Ind., April 2 (UPI) -- Tom Crean, who just completed his ninth season at Marquette, was introduced Wednesday as the coach of the men's basketball team at Indiana University.

Crean, 42, signed an eight-year contract with Indiana that will pay him $2.3 million a year, the Indiana Athletics Department said in a release.

As to why he left Marquette, Crean said: "It's Indiana. It's Indiana. That is the bottom line. I wouldn't have left (Marquette) if I didn't feel this was the absolute pinnacle of college basketball."

Marquette was 190-96, including 25-10 this season, under Crean, who helped the Warriors to five NCAA tournament berths.

Indiana has been looking for a men's basketball coach since the February resignation of Kelvin Sampson after he allegedly broke NCAA regulations, violations that could lead to sanctions against the program.

The Hoosiers may start next season without a returning starter since two of this year's front-line players were seniors, two were dismissed from the team this week and the fifth -- freshman point guard Eric Gordon -- may make himself available for the NBA draft.