Tom Crean Biography

Tom Crean believes in defense, Tom Crean believes in rebounding, he understands the path to consistently winning basketball games and championships rests on believing in, developing, practicing and honing these skills.

Crean, who got his coaching start on Jud Heathcote's Michigan State staff for the 1989-90' season helped coach the Spartans to the Big Ten championship and the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16".

Crean went to Western Kentucky as an assistant and was there four seasons, (1990-91' thru the 1993-94' season). During his tenure at Western Kentucky the Hilltoppers put together four winning seasons, a record of 81-42 (.658)winning percentage and went to the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT once.

Crean was at Pittsburgh for the 1994-95' season, then returned to Michigan State for four seasons,(1995-96' through the 1998-99'season)the last two as the Associate Head Coach. Crean's second coaching tenure with Michigan State saw the Spartans produce a 88-41 record (.682) winning percentage.

MSU made four consecutive postseason appearances including NCAA "Final Four" (first in 20 seasons), and "Sweet Sixteen" opportunities in back to back seasons and two trips to the NIT Tournament. The Spartans also were the Big Ten Regular Season Champions two consecutive seasons and won the Big Ten Tournament one season.

Within days after the Spartans bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in March of 1999, Crean was introduced as Marquette's new head basketball coach. Crean said, "I am very excited about coming to Marquette and beginning a new chapter here. I'm coming with great enthusiasm and a willingness to work as hard as it takes to help the university and the program keep achieving excellence. I'm a part of Marquette University now and the mission here is great," continued Crean.

"It's a mission of excellence; it's a mission of understanding; it's a mission of taking it to another level. That's what I want our program to be about. We are going to embrace the tradition, we're going to embrace the challenges out there. We're going to do it every day and we're going to do it together because we are going to understand that we're a part of something bigger than ourselves. That's how you truly win."

Following Crean's introductory remarks Marquette's President, the Rev. Robert A. Wild, S.J. said, "Very early on in this search, we focused in on Tom Crean because we realized he possessed everything we were looking for - great recruiting ability, knowledge of the midwest, successful coaching experience, a tremendous work ethic - and he shared our vision for what this program is capable of becoming."

It's fair to say Crean has not disappointed President Wild, Marquette University or its fans. After five seasons (through the 2003-04' season) Crean's record stands at 102-52 (.653) winning percentage. Although the Golden Eagles 2003-04 season was not in the mold of the previous two seasons they still won 19 games went 8-8 in the conference and were 15-3 at home. The Eagles went to the NIT quarterfinals, not bad for an "off year".

In the 2002-03' season Marquette won the Conference USA regular season crown (first ever) finishing with a 14-2 in conference record (most conference wins ever by the Golden Eagles), tied for the schools second best all time win record 27-5 (.844) and the second highest win total in conference history.

The Golden Eagles ended the regular season ranked Number 9 by the Associated Press (the best year-end ranking for Marquette since 1978) and were chosen Number 6 in the final ESPN/USA Today Poll. An NCAA "Big Dance" trip produced a "Final Four" finish.

In the 2001-02' season Marquette went 26-7 (.788) finished second in regular season conference play and enjoyed a trip to the NCAA "Big Dance." Crean has coached the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances including a "Final Four" (first since 1977) and two NIT trips in his five seasons at Marquette.

Some statistics will help support Crean's contention that defense and rebounding are major components in consistent success for a basketball team.

Typical of a Crean coached team the Golden Eagles for the 1999-2000 season were ranked second in the conference in overall scoring defense and rebound margin. They were first in the conference in three point field goal defense. In all games played that season they ranked second in rebound margin.

The Golden Eagles continued their defensive ways with the 2001-02' season showing improvement over the previous season. They led Conference USA during the regular season in scoring defense in both conference and non-conference play. Their overall scoring defense record placed the Eagles in the top 10 teams in the country. The Eagles came in third among conference teams in rebound margin in both conference and non-conference play. Marquette was number two in C-USA and number 11 nationally in scoring margin, number three in the conference and number 26 nationally in field goals allowed.

The team achieved Marquette's highest national ranking at number nine since the 1978-79' season, the first 20-win season since the 1997-98' season, won the Great Alaska Shootout against top competition and had a final record of 26-7 the school's best won-loss record since the 1975-76' season.

Icing on the cake for the 2001-02' team was they enjoyed a 12-game winning streak in C-USA play, the longest in Marquette's illustrious basketball history. The Golden Eagles had a perfect home record of 16-0 and finished the year ranked number 12 nationally by the AP and number 18 by USA Today/ESPN.

Of course a little offense never hurt anything. The Golden Eagles achieved some lofty marks for the 2002-03' campaign which saw them atop the conference and tied for 14th nationally in field goal percentage. They finished first in the conference and number six nationally in free throw percentage, as well as claiming the same spots in three-point field goal percentage. The Eagles finished number two in C-USA and 25th nationally in scoring offense and were number two in conference and 26th nationally in scoring margin.

Coach Crean was honored by being named Ray Meyer C-USA Coach of the Year following the 2001-02' season, a distinction no other Marquette coach had ever received. In addition he was chosen by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as the District 5 Coach of the Year and was accorded the same honor by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Basketball Times named Crean their 2001-02' Mideast Region Coach of the Year and he was a finalist in ESPN The Magazine's polling for College Basketball Coach of the Year.

For an encore Crean was honored by being named the Ray Meyer C-USA Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Adding to the honors Crean was named District 11 Coach of the Year for the second straight season (2002-03') by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and won the prestigious Clair Bee award given to the coach who made the most significant positive contributions to the sport during the past year.

Crean holds a B.A. from Central Michigan. He and his wife Joani have two children, a daughter, Megan and a son, Riley.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Helped coach the Michigan State to the Big Ten championship and the NCAA Tournament "Sweet 16"
Helped coach Western Kentucky to an 81-42 (.658) winning percentage record in 4 seasons
During his four seasons Hilltoppers went to NCAA Tournament twice and NIT once
Second assistant coaching turn at Michigan State Spartans produce a 88-41 record (.682) record over 4 seasons
MSU made four consecutive postseason appearances
Spartans went to "Final Four" (first in 20 seasons)
Spartans went to "Sweet Sixteen"
Two trips to the NIT
Big Ten Regular Season Champions two consecutive seasons
Won the Big Ten Tournament one season
After five seasons record at Marquette is 102-52 (.653) winning percentage
Went 26-7 (.788) and finished second in C-USA 2001-02' season
Enjoyed a trip to the NCAA "Big Dance" following 2001-02' season
Won C-USA regular season crown (first ever) with a 14-2 conference record (most conference) wins ever by Golden Eagles 2002-03' season
Tied for the schools second best all time win record 27-5 (.844) for the 2002-03' season
Second highest win total in C-USA history
Ranked Number 9 by the AP after 2002-03' (best year-end ranking for Marquette since 1978)
Chosen Number 6 in the final ESPN/USA Today Poll following 2002-03 season
Went to the "Final Four of the NCAA Tournament following 2002-03' season
Went 15-3 at home for the 2003-04' season
Went to the NIT quarterfinals following 2003-04' season
Coached team to two NCAA Tournament and two NIT trips in his five seasons at Marquette
Named Ray Meyer C-USA Coach of the Year twice
Chosen by National Association of Basketball Coaches District 5 Coach of the Year - 2001-02'
United States Basketball Writers Association named him Basketball Coach of the Year 2001-02'
Basketball Times named Crean their 2001-02' Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Finalist in ESPN The Magazine's polling for College Basketball Coach of the Year 2001-02'
Named District 11 Coach of the Year 2002-03' by National Association of Basketball Coaches
Won the prestigious Clair Bee award following 2002-03 season
Holds a B.A. from Central Michigan