Tom Crean now with ESPN on a year of transitions: 'I've never lost the drive to coach'
Tom Crean
Tom Crean  was seated in the back of the cafeteria with classic rock playing from the speakers as  he  huddled with  his  notes and film on  his  laptop to prepare for Tuesday nightâs game between Oklahoma and Kansas.
 Crean   the former Marquette and Indiana head coach  is out of coaching for the first time since  he  entered the profession  but  he  is as attached to the game as ever.  Crean  said  he  is learning a fresh perspective as an ESPN analyst  and  he  has received credit for offering keen insight during games.
 Crean  was fired in March 2017 after  his  ninth season at Indiana  which ended with an 18-16 record.  His  Hoosiers teams made three Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament but couldnât advance further.
Now   Crean  spends  his  time at  his  home in Florida  where  his  son Riley â a 35th-round draft pick of the White Sox â is playing at IMG Academy and will be eligible for the baseball draft again in June.  Crean  had time to help  his  older daughter move to California and rarely misses  his  younger daughterâs volleyball games.  He  runs into fellow Florida resident Dick Vitale  who âpumps me up.â
And of course  Crean  is still on the road  soaking in college basketball from the media side.
 His  former Hoosiers team  now coached by Archie Miller  plays at Illinois on Wednesday.
Hereâs what  Crean  told the Tribune in a phone interview about a year of transitions and when  he  would like to get back to coaching:
[TGT] was seated in the back of the cafeteria with classic rock playing from the speakers as   [TGT]   huddled with   [TGT]   notes and film on   [TGT]   laptop to prepare for Tuesday nightâs game between Oklahoma and Kansas.
  [TGT]    the former Marquette and Indiana head coach  is out of coaching for the first time since   [TGT]   entered the profession  but   [TGT]   is as attached to the game as ever.   [TGT]   said   [TGT]   is learning a fresh perspective as an ESPN analyst  and   [TGT]   has received credit for offering keen insight during games.
  [TGT] was fired in March 2017 after   [TGT]   ninth season at Indiana  which ended with an 18-16 record.   [TGT]   Hoosiers teams made three Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament but couldnât advance further.
Now    [TGT] spends   [TGT]   time at   [TGT]   home in Florida  where  his  son Riley â a 35th-round draft pick of the White Sox â is playing at IMG Academy and will be eligible for the baseball draft again in June.   [TGT]   had time to help   [TGT]   older daughter move to California and rarely misses   [TGT]   younger daughterâs volleyball games.   [TGT]   runs into fellow Florida resident Dick Vitale  who âpumps me up.â
And of course   [TGT]   is still on the road  soaking in college basketball from the media side.
 His  former Hoosiers team  now coached by Archie Miller  plays at Illinois on Wednesday.
Hereâs what   [TGT]   told the Tribune in a phone interview about a year of transitions and when   [TGT]   would like to get back to coaching: