Georgia officially hires Tom Crean as head coach

Georgia has found its new head coach, as the school announced Thursday night that Tom Crean has agreed to be the Bulldogs' new frontman.

"I am honored and humbled to join the University of Georgia family," Crean said in a statement. "Make no mistake, this is a basketball program inside of a great university that can compete for championships doing it the right way."

Crean spent last season as a broadcaster for ESPN after Indiana fired him, ending his nine-year run with the school. He posted a 166-135 record with the Hoosiers, but struggled to an 18-16 mark in his final season.

Prior to taking the Indiana position, Crean served as head coach at Marquette from 1999-2008, posting an impressive 190-96 record, including a Final Four appearance in 2003.

"Tom Crean is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball over the past two decades," athletic director Greg McGarity said. "He's going to be a great fit for the University of Georgia."

Crean will fill the void left when the school fired Mark Fox after a nine-year run with the Bulldogs. Georgia failed to reach the 20-win mark in each of the last two seasons under Fox.