Less than a month before practice starts for the 2009-10 season, Army has fired coach Jim Crews, according to the Times Herald-Record of Middletown, N.Y.
Crews compiled a meager 60-139 record in seven seasons, and the Black Knights never had a winning season during his tenure.
As the Times Herald-Record notes, the decision is strange because the new season will start in less than two months, and the school does not have much time to find a replacement.
The circumstances surrounding Crews’ firing are unclear. However, the timing of his ousting seems odd. Army, which hasn’t had a winning season in 24 years, opens practice on Oct. 15.
One rumor already making the rounds at West Point is that Army women’s basketball coach Dave Magarity, who coached the Marist men’s team from 1986-2004, will be named Crews’ successor.
Crews came to West Point in March of 2002 after 17 seasons at Evansville University. His Evansville teams posted 11 winning seasons. The Purple Aces reached the NCAA tournament four times (twice as an at-large entry) and made two trips to the National Invitation Tournament.
