MILWAUKEE -- Tom Crean spent the weekend house hunting. Only, he and his wife, Joani, weren't looking around Champaign, Ill.

	Tom Crean is content at Marquette -- today and for the foreseeable future.

"It wasn't in another state, it wasn't at another school -- it was here in Milwaukee,'' about 10 minutes from their current home, Crean said.

They can move into bigger digs now that Crean has agreed to a new contract to remain coach at Marquette, ending speculation that he was the leading contender for the Illini job.

Crean, who led Marquette to its first Final Four appearance in 26 years, said Tuesday night that he'd agreed to a new deal. Terms were not disclosed, although athletic director Bill Cords said Wednesday that the contract contains no escape clauses as had been speculated.

"It's a long-term contract, and it's more than generous, something I never could have imagined,'' Crean said at the Alumni Memorial Union on the Marquette campus in front of about 100 students and reporters.

"And I'm not turning down anything. It's not like I had an offer and had to pit this against this,'' Crean said. "It's a situation where the school stepped up and did just such a great job. And the best feeling of all outside of going to work with who I go to work with everyday is they came to me, like last year, and that's a great feeling.''

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 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. "I never gave them any indication. I was yelling at a couple of them last night. I don't think they thought it was anything different. We were just going about our work.''

Said freshman forward Steve Novak: "I'm a little relieved even though I never thought he was leaving.''

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, had a stroke and was hospitalized. Crean maintained since then that his focus was on his family and not his future.

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.

Cords said Wednesday that there wasn't a clause that would allow Crean to leave if the Michigan State job ever opens, as was speculated.

"There is no out clause in the contract as has been reported,'' Cords said. "I can't tell you what's in the contract, but I can tell you what's not in the contract. There is no out clause for Michigan State, Kentucky, the Green Bay Packers or the Dallas Cowboys. Nobody.''

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, 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.

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.

Cords refused to say whether Illinois sought permission to speak to his coach.

With Crean staying put, the big question is: will All-American Dwyane Wade also stick around?

The junior is considering declaring for the NBA draft.

Crean said Wade has been working out with the team but that he'll have his support should he choose to go pro rather than return for his senior season and another shot at the Final Four.

"He's having a great time here, but he also has a chance to be one of the top picks in the draft,'' Crean said.