Tom Crean (basketball coach)

Tom Crean

You must develop physical and mental toughness in order to succeed because there's going to be many disappointments and setbacks along the way.

Thomas Aaron "Tom" Crean (born 25 March 1966) is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach for the Georgia Bulldogs of University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Crean was previously the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team. Prior to that, he served as head coach at Marquette University (1999–2008), where his team reached the 2003 NCAA Final Four.

Quotes

Players that learn the value of hard work, commitment, teamwork, and sacrifice are the ones that make their teams great.

• The game of basketball is one of the greatest teachers of life there is. It teaches you first and foremost to believe in yourself. You must develop physical and mental toughness in order to succeed because there's going to be many disappointments and setbacks along the way. You learn quickly that basketball is a team game. You must be unselfish and accept the role that helps the team the most. Basketball teaches you the importance of setting high standards and never accepting anything other than your best effort.
  • Foreword to Winning Basketball : Techniques and Drills for Playing Better Offensive Basketball (2004) by Ralph L. Pim

• I am a firm believer that you can't have people in your program who just want to win; you must have people who are committed to winning. Players that learn the value of hard work, commitment, teamwork, and sacrifice are the ones that make their teams great.
  • Foreword to Winning Basketball : Techniques and Drills for Playing Better Offensive Basketball (2004) by Ralph L. Pim

• No coach ever stops learning. That's what makes the great coaches great. They strive to learn more every day and they never stop asking questions.
  • Foreword to Winning Basketball : Techniques and Drills for Playing Better Offensive Basketball (2004) by Ralph L. Pim

• I'd like to get a lot done in a short period of time. ... Your head coach won’t be real patient. Trying to keep it in perspective? Yes. Real patient? No.
  • As quoted in "Crean on : rebuilding the tradition of Indiana basketball" by David Burkart in IUplanet Newsletter (7 October 2007)

• We have a responsibility to CARE. Thank God we’re at a place that has the tradition of this program.
  • Using the acronym CARE for "Coach Attitude and Respect Everyday", in "Crean on : rebuilding the tradition of Indiana basketball" by David Burkart in IUplanet Newsletter (7 October 2007)