The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - Tom Crean signed a new contract to remain coach at Marquette, ending speculation that he was a leading contender to take the Illinois job.

Crean, who led Marquette to its first Final Four appearance in 26 years, said Tuesday night that he'd signed a new deal. Terms were not disclosed.

"It's a long-term contract, and it's more than generous," Crean said at the Alumni Memorial Union on the Marquette campus in front of about 100 students and reporters.

The 37-year-old coach was among the first names mentioned for the Illinois position when Bill Self was introduced as the new Kansas coach on Monday.

Crean said he had not met with any of his players to inform them of his decision. "I don't think they ever thought I was going anywhere," he said.

Crean has guided the Golden Eagles to an 83-41 record in four seasons, including 53-13 over the last two, as the team returned to the success it enjoyed under the late Al McGuire.

Marquette won the 1977 NCAA championship but fell short of the title game earlier this month when the Golden Eagles lost to Kansas 94-61 in the national semifinals.

During the game, Crean's 64-year-old mother, Marjorie Crean, suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. Crean had maintained since then that his focus was on his family and not his future.

But he acknowledged being flattered to hear his name at the Final Four.

"You'd rather be known for that than to be on a hot seat," he said. "The only time it's a problem for me is when it comes up in recruiting, and it does."

The contract replaces the reworked deal Crean signed in April 2002. Marquette, a private school, does not release contract information, but it is believed that Crean will get more than $1.1 million annually. The contract also is believed to contain a clause that would allow him to leave if the Michigan State job ever opens.

Crean got into coaching at the high school level when he was still an undergraduate at Central Michigan. Jud Heathcote hired him right out of college at Michigan State in 1989.

After working for Ralph Willard at Western Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Crean returned to East Lansing in 1995 and became Tom Izzo's top assistant and chief recruiter, helping convince Mateen Cleaves to join the program.

In 1999, athletic director Bill Cords gave Crean his first head coaching job at Marquette, where he replaced Mike Deane. Crean went 15-14 in each of his first two seasons before improving to 26-7 in 2001-02; the Golden Eagles went 27-6 this past season.

Three of Crean's assistants have gone on to become head coaches, including Darrin Horn, who was hired at Western Kentucky last week.

Athletic director Bill Cords said Marquette approached Crean about a better contract during the NCAA tournament, and they have been working on the details ever since.

"The finishing touches are being put on it right now," Crean said.

Crean is staying at a program that has at least eight returning scholarship players and strong support from the administration and fans. Also on the horizon is the new $31 million Al McGuire Center, which will replace the team's aging workout facility known simply as the "Old Gym."

WESTERN KENTUCKY: Western Kentucky guard Patrick Sparks was granted his release from the team by new coach Darrin Horn.

Sparks, who led the team to a third straight NCAA tournament appearance as a sophomore this season, is leaving less than two weeks after former head coach Dennis Felton accepted the head coaching job at Georgia.

According to a statement from Western Kentucky, Sparks had been considering leaving the school before this season.

"He informed me that he wants to explore other options," Horn said Tuesday. "It is obvious that this is a decision that Patrick has not rushed into, but has considered over a long period of time."

Horn, who played at Western Kentucky in the 1990s, was hired April 15 to replace Felton.

Sparks, who led Western Kentucky with 13.3 points and 5.9 assists a game, was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and was the most valuable player in the conference tournament, which the Hilltoppers won.

Steve Sparks, Sparks' father and high school coach at Muhlenberg North, said his son has not spoken with anyone at Georgia or any other schools about transferring.