College basketball has seen some coaches step away due to the challenges presented by NIL and the transfer portal. However, Tom Crean is not one of them; he’s looking to make a comeback. In a recent appearance with Kay Adams on Up and Adams, the former head coach of Marquette, Indiana, and Georgia expressed certainty about returning to coaching, stating, “there’s no question” he will be back. Currently, Crean works as a television analyst with multiple networks.
Having left the sport when NIL was just emerging, Crean perceives a significant opportunity now that the marketplace is established and dramatically different compared to his final coaching year in 2022. He reflected on the contrast, noting, “My last year at Georgia was the first year of the portal and the first year of NIL. We had $4,200 in NIL. We had seven guys go do a three-hour clinic for $600 each, and two others made $1,000 each from a social media ad. That totals $6,200. Nowadays, very few SEC teams have NIL budgets under $3-4 million. I would like to coach again with that kind of funding.”
Tom Crean’s last year coaching was the first year of NIL:
💰 $4,200 total
💰 $600 for seven guys to do a six hour clinic
💰 $1,000 for two others to do Crystals social media ad
💰 Today, SEC teams are spending $3-4 million in NILNow he wants back in with more money available… pic.twitter.com/SWrOlCh9Iz
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 18, 2025
While some have criticized the state of college basketball, Tom Crean appears ready to embrace the changes and re-enter the field. It’s common for coaches to transition into media roles, yet it’s intriguing to see who opts to return to coaching versus those satisfied in front of the cameras. For instance, Jay Wright has been clear about how much he enjoys his television work and doesn’t foresee a coaching return. Similarly, after leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers for CBS, Bill Cowher kept fans wondering about his potential return, but never did.
Crean enjoys his role in television, but athletic directors looking for a coach this upcoming offseason now have a clear message: former Big Ten Coach of the Year Tom Crean is available.
