In the weeks leading up to Tom Crean's firing at Indiana and in the days since, several national media members have questioned the university's support of Crean during his tenure and the status of the school's men's basketball program.
Michael Rosenberg talked to Crean's brothers-in-law, Jim and John Harbaugh, for a reaction piece to Crean's firing that quoted John Harbaugh saying, "They haven’t supported a coach at Indiana since Branch McCracken." Earlier in the month Rosenberg wrote that there is "no indication that Indiana can find a better coach," if the school were to fire Crean.
Neither assertion is correct. Indiana supported Crean contractually and financially, even as losses piled up early in his career, then late, and as his players ran afoul of the law in 2013 and 2014. The mere speculation of Indiana hiring Billy Donovan or Tony Bennett this offseason disproves the latter prognosis.
Pete Thamel wrote a column after Indiana University Director of Athletics Fred Glass held a press conference to discuss Crean's firing and the expectations of the program. The premise of Thamel's column largely centered on whether the Indiana job could be considered elite considering the last 30 years of the program.
Here are indisputable facts about the Indiana job, showing why it's one of the top jobs in the country despite the relative lack of on-court success in recent decades.
The position pays a top-10 salary in the country and the university supports the program financially with its assistant coach salary pool, commitment to recruiting and top-end traveling arrangements.
Crean was paid in excess of $3.6 million in salaries, benefits and bonuses in 2016 and his three assistant coaches made a combined $1.2 million, according to Indiana's 2016 NCAA membership financial report, which was acquired via public records request. The program spent $512,756 on recruiting, $1.27 million on travel, $258,000 on equipment and $105,000 on student-athlete meals (non-travel) in the last calendar year.
Assembly Hall recently underwent a $45 million renovation and there's a seven-year-old, 67,000-square-foot practice facility next door. Indiana is a mainstay in the top-10 nationally in annual attendance and it boasts the largest student section in the country.
Plus, the state of Indiana produced the fourth-most current NBA players of any state in the country, according to Business Insider. There's talent in the state and one could argue the historical connection between in-state high schools and the Hoosiers men's basketball program is unparalleled nationally.
It's clear that the expectations of the Indiana fan base and decision-makers exceeded the Hoosiers' on-court results under Crean. But are they out of touch with reality? Given the investment and support for the program, the answer is probably 'No.' Indiana can expect a better return on investment.
The hiring of Crean's replacement will prove if the program actually can.
Michael Rosenberg talked to Crean's brothers-in-law, Jim and John Harbaugh, for a reaction piece to Crean's firing that quoted John Harbaugh saying, "They haven’t supported a coach at Indiana since Branch McCracken." Earlier in the month Rosenberg wrote that there is "no indication that Indiana can find a better coach," if the school were to fire Crean.
Neither assertion is correct. Indiana supported Crean contractually and financially, even as losses piled up early in his career, then late, and as his players ran afoul of the law in 2013 and 2014. The mere speculation of Indiana hiring Billy Donovan or Tony Bennett this offseason disproves the latter prognosis.
Pete Thamel wrote a column after Indiana University Director of Athletics Fred Glass held a press conference to discuss Crean's firing and the expectations of the program. The premise of Thamel's column largely centered on whether the Indiana job could be considered elite considering the last 30 years of the program.
Here are indisputable facts about the Indiana job, showing why it's one of the top jobs in the country despite the relative lack of on-court success in recent decades.
The position pays a top-10 salary in the country and the university supports the program financially with its assistant coach salary pool, commitment to recruiting and top-end traveling arrangements.
Crean was paid in excess of $3.6 million in salaries, benefits and bonuses in 2016 and his three assistant coaches made a combined $1.2 million, according to Indiana's 2016 NCAA membership financial report, which was acquired via public records request. The program spent $512,756 on recruiting, $1.27 million on travel, $258,000 on equipment and $105,000 on student-athlete meals (non-travel) in the last calendar year.
Assembly Hall recently underwent a $45 million renovation and there's a seven-year-old, 67,000-square-foot practice facility next door. Indiana is a mainstay in the top-10 nationally in annual attendance and it boasts the largest student section in the country.
Plus, the state of Indiana produced the fourth-most current NBA players of any state in the country, according to Business Insider. There's talent in the state and one could argue the historical connection between in-state high schools and the Hoosiers men's basketball program is unparalleled nationally.
It's clear that the expectations of the Indiana fan base and decision-makers exceeded the Hoosiers' on-court results under Crean. But are they out of touch with reality? Given the investment and support for the program, the answer is probably 'No.' Indiana can expect a better return on investment.
The hiring of Crean's replacement will prove if the program actually can.