Crawfordsville athletic director Bryce Barton has accepted the resignation of girls basketball coach Tony Bean. “I want to thank coach Bean for the time and effort that he put into his three years as head coach,” Barton said. “He spent countless hours working to better our girls basketball program. With the other two county coaches, he continued to develop the youth programs at each school. He was involved in our middle school program, and worked tirelessly to improve our high school program.” Bean was the varsity head coach for three seasons, compiling a 9-61 record. This season, the Athenians posted a 4-20 record, won their first Sagamore Conference game since 2016, and junior Lauren Kellerman was a first-team all Sagamore Conference selection. Bean believes it is time for change within the program, and for the girls to hear a new voice. “I am stepping down as head coach for the girls basketball program,” he told the Journal Review. “The only reason is that I feel like it’s time for the team to hear a new voice. I am very proud of what we have done these past three years and certainly believe that we have made strides forward.” Many people have assisted Bean and his efforts, and he wants to express his gratitude. “A huge thank you goes out to Bryce Barton and the CHS administration for giving me the opportunity to head up the program over the last three years,” he said. “The entire experience has certainly made me a better coach and a better communicator. A thank you goes out to Jennifer Morgan who assisted me all three seasons and Amanda Myers who assisted for the first two seasons.” Bean also leaned on other Crawfordsville coaches David and Danny Pierce, John Froedge, Rhett Welliever, Britney Carpenter, and former coach Gary Linn for advice along the way. He wants to personally thank each of them and all of the supporters he had throughout the course of his tenure. In the spring, Bean will continue his duties as the junior-varsity baseball coach, and will assist teams in any way that he can in the future, all while continuing to support the girls basketball program. “I will be the teams’ biggest fan moving forward and will be in attendance as much as I can next season,” he said. “I wish everyone the absolute best of luck moving forward. As for me, I will continue to assist coaches and teams in any way that I can. I will always be a proud Athenian.” Barton believes Bean, a 1987 Crawfordsville graduate, will continue to be a big part and supporter throughout the athletic department. “Tony is a CHS grad and has not lost any of that passion for wanting to see CHS be successful in all sports.” The search is now underway for Beans’ replacement.