Indiana Hires Marquette's Crean As New Men's Basketball Coach

April 2, 2008 2:08 p.m. EST

Bloomington, IN (AHN) - Tom Crean will take over a troubled Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball program, getting an eight-year contract averaging $2.3 million.

Crean coached Marquette for nine seasons, leading the Golden Eagles to five NCAA tournaments and the 2003 Final Four behind Dwyane Wade.

"We are not going to be overwhelmed by the challenges, we are going to have to embrace them," Crean said at a news conference.

Crean's hiring comes six weeks after former coach Kelvin Sampson resigned amid a recruiting scandal. Interim coach Dan Dakich replaced him, losing four of seven games.

On Tuesday, Dakich kicked starting guards Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis off the team. If freshman guard Eric Gordon turns pro as expected, that would mean all five starters could be gone from last year's team.

Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan, said Crean is a good choice for the team.

"You look at his record, where he's been, who he's worked with, Tom Izzo, Rob Wood, all the success with Marquette, paid his dues, a lot of experience," said Greenspan.