Georgia basketball needs to be smart about replacing Tom Crean

Georgia basketball has put together the worst season in program history with head coach Tom Crean in charge. His seat gets hotter, and at this point in the season, it’s safe to speculate that the university will look to replace him.

While athletic director Josh Brooks is someone that will likely make a great hire, he does need to be smart about it because this program is in bad shape.

There are rumors about who the replacement could be, and a lot of it isn’t remotely true, but fans love to talk, and at this point, anyone would be better than Crean.

At 6-23 overall and 1-15 in SEC play, Georgia has more losses than it has ever had in a season. So many SEC schools continue to prove that they can be elite in football and basketball. Why can’t Georgia be that?

The Lady Dogs are doing a fantastic job, so half of the evolution is complete, but now it’s time to turn the men’s program in the right direction.

Georgia basketball needs to replace Tom Crean but shouldn’t rush the hire.

When Crean took over, things felt like they were on the right track, but with so many transfers, it just hasn’t worked out like a lot of fans wanted. It’s hard to win when a program has kids transferring after each season but doesn’t that say something about the coaching staff?

Those kids who left have all gone to other schools and had a ton of success. Why can’t Georgia get kids to stick around? Is it coaching or something else?

Whoever gets the job next will have their hands full. Rebuild is the easiest way to put it, but the next head coach needs to realize it will take a lot of time and effort to get this basketball program back on its feet.

Right now, the Georgia men’s basketball program is as low as it can get, so the next guy to come in must find a way to lift spirits and connect with a group of young men who probably feel down and unsure about staying.

There are so many things Brooks should think about before hiring another coach. He needs to find one willing to rebuild this program’s culture and keep kids in Athens. A coach wants to win but doesn’t do it with ill-intentions.

Some are calling for Jonas Hayes to become the head coach. The former player and assistant coach played a huge role during the 10 years he was around the program.

He has ties to Atlanta and the AAU system, so recruiting would be something he would succeed at doing. Hayes was the reason Yante Maten and Marcus Thorton both earned All-SEC honors.

He would be a solid hire, but as someone who just took the head coaching job at Xavier University, the hiccup here could be wanting more experience. Does he have enough to pick the Dawgs up and get them on track? Maybe, but it is something to think about before hiring anyone.

That lack of experience could motivate him to prove he could do it, or it could cause even more turmoil within the program. I’m not saying it would, but who knows.

Hayes is the first name fans throw out there because he was a massive asset for Mark Fox, but to name him the head coach, Brooks needs to think that through genuinely.

UGASports editor Anthony Dasher mentioned another name that could replace Crean, and that was former Tennessee assistant coach and current Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes.

At 21-8 on the season, Forbes has the Demon Deacons playing well, and everywhere he has coached — he has won. It’s a solid name to throw out there and would give the Dawgs someone with experience and proven success. Then again, why would he leave a successful program for Georgia that needs a total overhaul?

Maybe Forbes wants a challenge, but it’s hard to see him take that risk. Plus, who knows what kind of money Georgia will have to pay the new coach, which is also something to consider. Hayes may be someone the Dawgs can afford until they finish paying Crean’s buyout.

Another name some people think the Dawgs should reach out to is Rick Pitino, who should never be a consideration because Georgia doesn’t need another corrupt coach.

Some other names we’ve heard thrown out there are Andy Enfield and Matt McMahon. The situation is not moving anywhere because Crean is still the head coach for at least three more games. However, as this coaching drama unfolds, we will continue to update.