Get a grip!

[downtown85]

Chicos, I agree time to move on. Crean ain't coming back.  The Crean era is history.  I am a bit worried that the new AD/Adminstration will make a bad choice for the next coach and settle for someone second rate.  However, this is a brilliant opportunity to upgrade and get a rising coaching star who can take us to the next level.  The choice is clearly Cottingham's and Wild's. I hope they don't botch it

I think the program is in another universe compared to 9 years ago when Crean is hired.  We can reach for the best talent available now and not settle for an uproven assistant.  I hope the people leading the search go for it!

[Pakuni]

1) Made sure all of the players were aware he was leaving before it leaked and they found out from ESPN or Rosiak.

Difficult to do before he signs a contract. If the deal falls through or he changes his mind at the last minute, how do you go back and coach a team after telling them you're outta there. I know it's been done, but it's hardly ideal. Can't blame Crean for people at IU leaking this before the deal was even official.

2) Made sure the AD & President knew he was leaving (according to IWB, they were ambushed by the news)

Troublesome, if true. But I don't think people are running around calling the guy scum, etc., because he failed to keep his AD up to speed on a possible job change.

3) Delayed the announcement by a day so that he could get his affairs in order at MU before he left.

What affairs?
And given that this was leaked well before the deal was final, what would be the point? What benefit is there for anybody to have Crean roaming the Al for a day as an employee of Indiana University?

4) Had someone from the athletic department contact the recruits to let them know he was leaving

Not his job. That's the AD's/assistant coaches' job. And, once again, why would he do this before the deal was final?

5) He should have gone to Humphrey Hall to tell the players and not summon them to his house.

Why? What difference does it make? Personally, I think there's something to be said for him inviting the players into his home where they could deal with this privately rather than piling them into a dorm study room with dozens of their fellow students standing outside listening in/waiting for a chance to quiz them on it. IMO, doing this in private was much more dignified than in a dormitory.

do you need more?

Yeah, because other than possibly number two, I'm not convinced your other suggestions would have lended themselves to more "dignity."

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos, I agree time to move on. Crean ain't coming back.  The Crean era is history.  I am a bit worried that the new AD/Adminstration will make a bad choice for the next coach and settle for someone second rate.  However, this is a brilliant opportunity to upgrade and get a rising coaching star who can take us to the next level.  The choice is clearly Cottingham's and Wild's. I hope they don't botch it

I think the program is in another universe compared to 9 years ago when Crean is hired.  We can reach for the best talent available now and not settle for an uproven assistant.  I hope the people leading the search go for it!

Tremendous opportunity, no doubt.  Let's hope we're all pleased as punch in a few days or weeks.

[LastWarrior]

1) Made sure all of the players were aware he was leaving before it leaked and they found out from ESPN or Rosiak.

Difficult to do before he signs a contract. If the deal falls through or he changes his mind at the last minute, how do you go back and coach a team after telling them you're outta there. I know it's been done, but it's hardly ideal. Can't blame Crean for people at IU leaking this before the deal was even official.

2) Made sure the AD & President knew he was leaving (according to IWB, they were ambushed by the news)

Troublesome, if true. But I don't think people are running around calling the guy scum, etc., because he failed to keep his AD up to speed on a possible job change.

3) Delayed the announcement by a day so that he could get his affairs in order at MU before he left.

What affairs?
And given that this was leaked well before the deal was final, what would be the point? What benefit is there for anybody to have Crean roaming the Al for a day as an employee of Indiana University?

4) Had someone from the athletic department contact the recruits to let them know he was leaving

Not his job. That's the AD's/assistant coaches' job. And, once again, why would he do this before the deal was final?

5) He should have gone to Humphrey Hall to tell the players and not summon them to his house.

Why? What difference does it make? Personally, I think there's something to be said for him inviting the players into his home where they could deal with this privately rather than piling them into a dorm study room with dozens of their fellow students standing outside listening in/waiting for a chance to quiz them on it. IMO, doing this in private was much more dignified than in a dormitory.

do you need more?

Yeah, because other than possibly number two, I'm not convinced your other suggestions would have lended themselves to more "dignity."

You asked for examples on how the situation could have been handled better and I gave you five.  Whether you think they were plausible or not is of no consequence to me.  He obviously could have handled this better and that starts with him immediately notifying the administration and athletic director that he was leaving.  He signed a letter of intent for IU... he was safe.  Let's stop making excuses for the man and let him speak up for himself.

[ZiggysChestHair]

You guys are missing the point... nobody is pissed at Crean for taking the IU job.  Good move by him and IU.  Congrats to both of them.  The thing that everybody is pissed about is how he left MU.  There is something to be said about handling a departure from a school or company with class & dignity.

Actually I am pissed he took the IU job.  Now don't get me wrong:
1.  I fully understand the reasons he left
2.  I don't blame him for taking the job
3.  I'm not even upset with the way he left.  There is no good way to leave.  Either exiting gracefully or going cold turkey, he's still cutting strings.
4.  Despite all that I'm pissed and I'm not going to get over it.  Even if we go out and hire someone better.  Yes it is silly, but it's the way it is.  I'm sure TC can get by with me being pissed he left even though I realize the program is in a better situation than when he arrived.

I grew up a Kansas fan.  I'm still pissed Roy Williams left for UNc.  Self is a great coach and was a good hire.  It didn't change me getting over everything.  I still hate Roy Williams.  I consider this now the same with TC.  I hope Marquette kills IU just like I hope Kansas destroys UNC this weekend.  It's part of being a fan.

[LastWarrior]

Is this "dignified"?

"A source close to Marquette's athletic department said Wednesday that Crean kept the job offer close to the vest, to the point where Father Robert Wild, the school's president, and Steve Cottingham, the school's new athletic director, were not immediately aware that Crean was ready to go to Indiana."

http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/

[augoman]

Actually, when MU was letting Crean write his own contract; 10 year extension, easy-out clause, mini buy-out, outrageous pay..., they should have expected he would grab the first 'real' (no phoney Kentucky/Florida deal) offer he got that paid as well.  As part of the gig, I wonder if IU will create a phoney job for his father-in-law.

[thekahoona]

pakuni is right -- all the negibabies here are the ones that need to get a grip. 

the guy stayed for 9 YEARS he built the profile of the program back to national recognition...  he helped get us into the big east (more kudos to bill cords here).  he recruited wade and took the team to the final four, he sent three players to the nba...

yeah, he had deficiencies, but he was a good coach - and we were lucky to have him.

he turned the men's basketball team into a PROGRAM again.

i'm sorry to see him go, but i understand it. 

i'm disgusted with the recriminations based solely on his exit.

grow. up.

[LastWarrior]

pakuni is right -- all the negibabies here are the ones that need to get a grip. 

the guy stayed for 9 YEARS he built the profile of the program back to national recognition...  he helped get us into the big east (more kudos to bill cords here).  he recruited wade and took the team to the final four, he sent three players to the nba...

yeah, he had deficiencies, but he was a good coach - and we were lucky to have him.

he turned the men's basketball team into a PROGRAM again.

i'm sorry to see him go, but i understand it. 

i'm disgusted with the recriminations based solely on his exit.

grow. up.

you're obviously not keeping up... not many people are blaming him for taking the IU job.  I for one said many times it's a great move for him and IU.  The thing everybody is pissed aobut is how he handled his departure.  As more and more info is coming out about it, he's really looking like a douche bag.  This is coming from the biggest Crean supporter!  No doubt he tend tremendous things for MU and IMO, resurrected the MU program.  That said, how about finishing it with a classy exit?

[thekahoona]

i'm keeping up.  this thread started with the statement "he never gave a rat's ass about marquette."  i call bs.

i'm also reacting to several other threads that have referred to crean as a liar, traitor, etc. etc. etc.  there's a lot of them.

messy exit?  sure. name one exit in almost any sport at this level or above that hasn't been "messy" (and you can't use examples of retirement by legendary coaches as examples).

look, one could make the case that any coach can expect recriminations upon his exit, so why not just make a clean, quick, (with the emphasis on quick) break? 

anyway, my reply was probably a reaction to a boardfull of threads and not just this one - this one's opening post just pushed it over the edge.

[ChicosBailBonds]

i'm keeping up.  this thread started with the statement "he never gave a rat's ass about marquette."  i call bs.

i'm also reacting to several other threads that have referred to crean as a liar, traitor, etc. etc. etc.  there's a lot of them.

messy exit?  sure. name one exit in almost any sport at this level or above that hasn't been "messy" (and you can't use examples of retirement by legendary coaches as examples).

look, one could make the case that any coach can expect recriminations upon his exit, so why not just make a clean, quick, (with the emphasis on quick) break? 

anyway, my reply was probably a reaction to a boardfull of threads and not just this one - this one's opening post just pushed it over the edge.

+1

By all accounts that I've read, this was a tough decision for him.  My guess is that's why he took the non-confrontational approach and snuck out into the night.  He had a great thing going with MU with people solidly in his corner, easier to leave when you don't have to confront them.  He gave us 9 very good years, despite what some of the posters here say...they were 9 good years.  But he's gone now...bye bye, time to sack up and hire a great coach.

[Pakuni]

Is this "dignified"?

"A source close to Marquette's athletic department said Wednesday that Crean kept the job offer close to the vest, to the point where Father Robert Wild, the school's president, and Steve Cottingham, the school's new athletic director, were not immediately aware that Crean was ready to go to Indiana."

http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/

It's neither dignified nor undignified. He told them when he made his decision. What's undignified about that? I don't buy the notion that every employee owes his/her bosses notification when contemplating a career move.

Undignified would be how Thad Matta, Nick Saban, Dennis Franchione, etc. handled their departures.

[MUinOH]

Undignified would be how Thad Matta, Nick Saban, Dennis Franchione, etc. handled their departures.

Or he could've puked all over his car door and forgotten his ABC's like Huggins did.  Guess when you look at it that way, MU has been lucky!   

[ErickJD08]

I have mixed emotions.  I am upset the coach left.  But in all honesty, I don't see Marquette in the conversation of a championship team with Crean at the helm.  HE COULDN'T recruit big guys.  I really don't think it was a Marquette thing.  I don't see how EVERY talented big man could look at Marquette and say, "I have no place there".  We have the guards, we just need the bigs.  With that said, I think Crean maxed this position and the "Wade" well dried up.

I do think Crean is dumb though.  1) I understand that Indiana is a dream job but in all honesty, I would have taken the Kentucky job.  2) He is entering a position that is going to be 4 years and out.  If they don't make it past the sweet sixteen in the next four years, he WILL be on the hot seat.  Marquette alums can be critical but IU is a storied program.  If you can't win, they will not flinch to cut you out.  3) With this said, he has no returning starters.  Its not impossible, but it will be difficult to begin with a running start.  4) He is entering a program that could possibly have sanctions on recruiting and such.  Another issue that could cause a hiccup.  With programs like, UK, IU, UNC, UCLA, there are no excuses for losing.

I think what some people are really forgetting is why coaches like Crean and others get paid so much.  Its basically because good coaches (not even great) are hard to come by.  Thats why all the worried alums are worried.  Its because good coaches are hard to come by AND Marquette is one bad decision away from becoming a no body.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I have mixed emotions.  I am upset the coach left.  But in all honesty, I don't see Marquette in the conversation of a championship team with Crean at the helm.  HE COULDN'T recruit big guys.  I really don't think it was a Marquette thing.  I don't see how EVERY talented big man could look at Marquette and say, "I have no place there".  We have the guards, we just need the bigs.  With that said, I think Crean maxed this position and the "Wade" well dried up.

I do think Crean is dumb though.  1) I understand that Indiana is a dream job but in all honesty, I would have taken the Kentucky job.  2) He is entering a position that is going to be 4 years and out.  If they don't make it past the sweet sixteen in the next four years, he WILL be on the hot seat.  Marquette alums can be critical but IU is a storied program.  If you can't win, they will not flinch to cut you out.  3) With this said, he has no returning starters.  Its not impossible, but it will be difficult to begin with a running start.  4) He is entering a program that could possibly have sanctions on recruiting and such.  Another issue that could cause a hiccup.  With programs like, UK, IU, UNC, UCLA, there are no excuses for losing.

I think what some people are really forgetting is why coaches like Crean and others get paid so much.  Its basically because good coaches (not even great) are hard to come by.  Thats why all the worried alums are worried.  Its because good coaches are hard to come by AND Marquette is one bad decision away from becoming a no body.

In all honesty, do you really think he won't be able to recruit big guys to IU?  He'll have a ton of them....he gets a fresh start, too you know.  My guess is he'll have two or three bigs come through quickly and many people here will say "why the hell didn't he do that at MU"....and Crean would probably say "I tried".

A new fresh start will help him in recruiting and hopefully help MU as well. 

[farmdaddy]

What I'm hoping for is a day in the next two weeks where I can say..."I can live with that"...or "sweet".   I'm equally concerned that I'll be saying "the @#$# GOLD???  Gold??"

I completely agree Chicos...Hopefully this is a blessing in disguise.  I just don't want to be sitting there all excited about the press conference for a  hire and then having to change my pants after crapping myself for a dumbass decision like the Gold debacle.