Former Indiana head coach Tom Crean appeared on a popular sports podcast this week. He had some interesting things to say reflecting back on his time with the Hoosiers.
It’s been about two months since Indiana decided to part ways with Tom Crean. That time seems to have been spent reflecting on his nine years in Bloomington and his plan moving forward. Indiana has since moved on, hiring Archie Miller, and Tom Crean is looking for his next opportunity.
Tom Crean joined Barstool Sports ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast on Wednesday. The popular podcast traveled to Bloomington where they spent roughly 35-minutes with Crean. The conversations that were brought up range from Dwyane Wade and his time at Marquette to his role at Indiana for nearly a decade.
One of the more notable points from the interview includes Crean’s praise for former Indiana basketball star Christian Watford. Crean believes that Watford was one of those players who consistently tried to better himself each and every day.
The interview was packed with other stories including marrying into the Harbaugh family, living with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and even his playing days. He even reveals the famous bat story and who was behind it.
(For those wondering, the filmed this interview in the local Party City parking lot on third street)
The conversation about his time with Indiana and his connection has not since changed. While he has no hard feelings against the University or other programs, it shows that he truly cares about the community outside of basketball. He said the same phrase in multiple interviews, “I tell my family all the time, the campus didn’t do this to us, the department didn’t do this, and the university didn’t. He referenced one of the aspects of coaching that he missed, which was working with all other programs at Indiana. Helping to recruit for all aspects of the athletic department, not just basketball.
In addition to that, the conversation about his time at Indiana was brief. He was asked if he had spoken to any of the higher-ups in the athletic department, to which he said no. After two months and almost a decade of coaching, no word from Fred Glass or any of the other members of the athletic department? It seems a bit odd.
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I realize that Indiana is moving on with new head coach Archie Miller, but to not tie up loose ends? To simply balk at the idea of not amending the relationship you had with a coach sounds all too familiar. Tom Crean was the one who brought Indiana back from the plague that was Kelvin Sampson. For him to be truthfully shunned off by some seems strange. Multiple times he did recognize the love Indiana still has for him and the encounters he still has with numerous fans.