
Tom Crean, the former Indiana University basketball coach, is married to Joani Harbaugh, whose brothers John and Jim are both NFL head coaches. Tom Crean's brother-in-law, Jim Harbaugh, is the head football coach at Michigan. John Harbaugh is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Jim Harbaugh |
| Relation | Brother-in-law of Tom Crean |
| Profession | Coach |
| Coaching sport | Football |
| Team | Michigan |
| University | Stanford |
| Other teams coached | 49ers |
| Sibling | John Harbaugh |
| Parent | Jack Harbaugh |
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What You'll Learn
- Tom Crean is the brother-in-law of Jim Harbaugh, the coach of the Michigan Wolverines
- Crean is married to Joani Harbaugh, Jim's sister
- Crean was fired from his dream job at Indiana in 2017
- Crean and Jim have a close relationship, with Jim offering support during Crean's firing
- Crean and Jim have both experienced similar pressures in their coaching careers

Tom Crean is the brother-in-law of Jim Harbaugh, the coach of the Michigan Wolverines
Crean and his wife met while he was an assistant basketball coach at Western Kentucky University, where Joani's father, Jack Harbaugh, was the head football coach. Jack Harbaugh is a longtime coach who won the I-AA national title at Western Kentucky. The Harbaugh brothers are the first pair of brothers in NFL history to serve as head coaches.
Tom Crean has spoken highly of his brother-in-law, Jim Harbaugh, praising his leadership, work ethic, and ability to overcome adversity. Crean has also acknowledged the support he received from his coaching family, including Jim Harbaugh, during his time at Indiana University. In 2017, Harbaugh offered support for his brother-in-law amid scrutiny during Indiana's 17-14 season, expressing confidence in Crean's abilities.
Jim Harbaugh, the coach of the Michigan Wolverines, has had a successful career, including building Stanford football into a Pac-12 power and leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. He has faced challenges at Michigan but turned the program around, leading them to success and national prominence. Crean and Harbaugh share a close relationship, often seeking each other's advice and support in their respective coaching careers.
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Crean is married to Joani Harbaugh, Jim's sister
Tom Crean is an American college basketball coach. He was the head coach for the University of Georgia men's basketball team and previously held the same position at Indiana University and Marquette University. Crean is married to Joani Harbaugh, the sister of Jim Harbaugh.
Jim Harbaugh is a football coach, currently at Michigan. He has also coached at Stanford and in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He is the son of Jack Harbaugh, a longtime coach who won a national championship in football at Western Kentucky. Jack Harbaugh is the father of Joani, John, and Jim. John Harbaugh is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.
Tom Crean and Joani Harbaugh met when Crean was an assistant basketball coach at Western Kentucky University, where her father was the head football coach. They have three children: Megan, Riley, and Ainsley.
Crean and his brother-in-law, Jim Harbaugh, have a close relationship. They speak often, and Crean has praised Jim's leadership and parenting skills. When asked about his brother-in-law, Crean said, "If I wasn’t related and didn’t know them the way I do, I’d still look up to both of them in a huge, huge way because they are tremendous leaders, they are tremendous parents and husbands."
The two coaches have supported each other professionally, with Jim Harbaugh offering public support for his brother-in-law when Crean was under scrutiny during his time as Indiana University's basketball coach. Crean has also expressed admiration for Jim's ability to overcome adversity and negativity, and he has acknowledged the benefits of their family relationship for learning about coaching and leadership.
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Crean was fired from his dream job at Indiana in 2017
Tom Crean, born on March 25, 1966, is an American college basketball coach. He was fired from his position as the head coach of Indiana University's basketball team in 2017. This was a job that he loved, and he had previously stated, "It's Indiana. It's Indiana, and that is the bottom line."
Crean was hired as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers in 2008, succeeding interim head coach Dan Dakich. When he took over, the team was in a state of disarray due to numerous NCAA rules violations under the previous coach, Kelvin Sampson. Crean inherited a depleted roster, with only two walk-ons who had minimal scoring contributions. Despite the challenges, he approached each game and practice with determination, emphasizing the long tradition of success at Indiana.
Crean's early years at Indiana were difficult, with the team experiencing consecutive losing records in his first three seasons. However, he worked tirelessly to rebuild the program, and his efforts paid off. He successfully recruited talented players, including five McDonald's All-Americans, and guided the team to significant improvements. In 2012, he was recognized for his achievements, receiving accolades such as the mid-season Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year and the Big Ten Coach of the Year awards.
Crean's success continued in the following years, with Indiana winning two Big Ten regular-season championships in four years (2013 and 2016). Despite these accomplishments, Indiana decided to part ways with Crean in 2017. The 2016-17 season started promisingly, with Indiana ranked No. 3 in the country after their first nine games. However, they struggled for the remainder of the season, finishing with a 10-14 record.
Crean's in-game coaching abilities were questioned, and although he had some NCAA tournament wins, it was not enough to save his job. His brother-in-law, John Harbaugh, a coach himself, understood the challenges Crean faced and offered his support. Crean's impact on the Indiana program, taking it from '"unthinkable depths" to success, is widely acknowledged as one of the most remarkable rebuilding projects in NCAA basketball history.
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Crean and Jim have a close relationship, with Jim offering support during Crean's firing
Tom Crean, the former Indiana University basketball coach, is married to Joani Harbaugh, whose brother is Jim Harbaugh. Jim is the head football coach at the University of Michigan. Crean and Jim have a close relationship, with Jim offering support to his brother-in-law during Crean's firing from Indiana in 2017.
Crean and Jim are both coaches in pressure-packed jobs with long hours and the constant challenge of recruiting. They have a strong bond, with Crean stating that he looks up to Jim as a leader and a family man. He also expressed admiration for how Jim has dealt with adversity and negativity, praising his success in restoring the University of Michigan's football program to national prominence.
During Crean's time at Indiana, he faced scrutiny and uncertainty about his job security. Jim, as his brother-in-law and fellow coach, offered support and belief in Crean's abilities. In an interview in 2017, Jim publicly affirmed his confidence in Crean, stating, "He's doing good... I talk to him a lot, and, you know, it's been challenging, but he's up for that task."
When Crean was fired from Indiana, his coaching family, including Jim, stood by him. They understood the challenges and stresses of the coaching profession and were ready to provide support. Crean's wife, Joani, highlighted the closeness of their relationship, suggesting that they talk more frequently than she does with her own brothers.
Crean and Jim's relationship extends beyond their shared profession. They have a strong friendship and mutual respect for each other's families. Crean has expressed gratitude for the support and friendship he has found in Jim, stating that their relationship has grown into a close bond. The two families have lived near each other and shared a passion for sports, creating a tight-knit dynamic that extends beyond their coaching connections.
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Crean and Jim have both experienced similar pressures in their coaching careers
Tom Crean is an American college basketball coach who was previously the head coach at Indiana University and Marquette University. He is married to Joani Harbaugh, whose brothers, John and Jim Harbaugh, are both NFL head coaches. Tom Crean and his brother-in-law, Jim Harbaugh, have both experienced similar pressures in their coaching careers.
Crean was fired from his position at Indiana University in 2017, which was a difficult experience for him. He took a year off from coaching to recharge and seek feedback from other sports professionals. Crean then became the head coach for the University of Georgia men's basketball team. Prior to the 2021 season, Crean's job at Georgia was in jeopardy, and he faced the challenge of turning the program around.
Similarly, Jim Harbaugh experienced a challenging period at Michigan before the 2021 season. His job was in serious jeopardy, and he had to work hard to turn the situation around. Despite the difficulties, both Crean and Harbaugh have been described as being in "pressure-packed jobs with long hours where recruiting never stops, but are paid well to do it."
In addition to the pressures of their coaching careers, both Crean and Harbaugh have had to deal with the stress of having family members in the same profession. As coaches themselves, they understand the demands and challenges of the job, which can create a unique dynamic within the family. Despite the challenges, the Harbaugh brothers have been supportive of Crean throughout his career, and they have a strong relationship.
Both Crean and Harbaugh have experienced similar pressures and challenges in their coaching careers, including job insecurity, the need to turn around struggling programs, and the stress of having family members in the same profession. Despite these difficulties, they have both achieved success and are well-respected in their field.
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Frequently asked questions
Tom Crean's brother-in-law is Jim Harbaugh.
Jim Harbaugh is the coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team.
Jim Harbaugh is the brother of Joani Harbaugh, Tom Crean's wife.
Tom Crean is a college basketball coach and analyst for select games on NBC Sports.
Tom Crean has mentioned that he has learned a lot about coaching, leadership, and family love from his relationship with Jim Harbaugh.











































