Tom Crean officially out as Georgia Bulldogs basketball coach

The University of Georgia has decided to change the leadership of its men’s basketball program, and Tom Crean will not return for his fifth season as the Bulldogs’ head coach.

The school announced the news officially Thursday evening.

“I would like to sincerely thank Coach Crean and his family for their commitment to Georgia Basketball,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said. “Tom Crean demonstrated unquestionable effort and enthusiasm in what he has attempted to accomplish at Georgia. That said, our expectation is to compete for post-season success in all 21 sports. We believe a leadership change in men’s basketball is needed to achieve our goals.”

Georgia finished 6-26 overall and 1-17 in the SEC this season — its worst men’s basketball season since the 1950s. The Bulldogs got routed 86-51 by Vanderbilt in its SEC Tournament opener Wednesday night, scoring only 14 first-half points in the loss.

Crean, 55, compiled a 47-75 record and was 15-57 in SEC play during his four seasons. Georgia finished 13th, 13th, 10th and 14th in the SEC in those four seasons, and had a winning record just once — 14-12 in 2020-21.

Two of Georgia’s leading scorers from the 2020-21 season transferred and now play key roles at SEC powers, K.D. Johnson at Auburn and Sahvir Wheeler at Kentucky. Those two were part of multiple players who left the program after last season. Injuries to P.J. Horne and Jailyn Ingram didn’t help matters for Crean and the Bulldogs, who suffered embarrassing losses to Wofford, George Mason, East Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb before its miserable run through the SEC.

A national search for Georgia’s next head men’s basketball coach will begin immediately, the school announced.

The Bulldogs reportedly considered firing Crean last month and reviewed his contract for a potential breach of contract violation for not breaking up an altercation between staffers. Multiple reports of a physical altercation between assistant coach Wade Mason and director of player personnel Brian Fish at halftime of the February game vs. LSU prompted the athletic department to issue a statement confirming the incident took place and “was reportedly properly as required by university policies.”

Crean reportedly has two years remaining on his six-year contract and is expected to be paid a $3.2 million buyout.