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Georgia fires coach Tom Crean after 6-26 college basketball season

Former Georgia coach Tom Crean, who worked as an announcer in 2017, is out of a job again after he was fired by the Bulldogs. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Former Georgia coach Tom Crean, who worked as an announcer in 2017, is out of a job again after he was fired by the Bulldogs. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

March 11 (UPI) -- The University of Georgia relieved veteran coach Tom Crean of his duties after the Bulldogs ended their 2021-22 campaign with a 6-26 record, the school announced.

"I would like to sincerely thank coach Crean and his family for their commitment to Georgia basketball," Bulldogs athletic director Josh Brooks said Thursday in a news release. "Tom Crean demonstrated unquestionable effort and enthusiasm in what he has attempted to accomplish at Georgia.

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"That said, our expectation is to compete for post-season success in all 21 sports. We believe a leadership change in men's basketball is needed to achieve our goals."

Crean went 47-75 in four seasons with the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs' most recent campaign ended with a 58-51 loss to Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC conference tournament. The Bulldogs went 1-17 in SEC this season and were 15-57 overall in conference play under Crean.

Georgia said it will immediately start its national search for another coach.

Crean went 166-135 in nine seasons at Indiana from 2008-09 through 2016-17. He went 190-96 in nine seasons at Marquette from 1999-00 through 2007-08. Crean's previous teams went to the NCAA tournament nine times. He took Marquette to the Final Four in 2002.

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Crean coached several future NBA players at his previous stops, including Dwyane Wade, Wesley Matthews, Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller, OG Anunoby and Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Bulldogs totaled just three tournament appearances since 2001-02. They advanced past the second round of the tournament just once since 1982-83.

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