I have to admit I was stunned the other day when I read that Jim Crews had been fired as coach of Army.  I was in Evansville in the mid-eighties when he was hired to try to restore the luster on the University of Evansville's basketball program.  While not being dominant, Crews did restore some respectability to it.  Seven years ago, he left for Army.

Crews is a Bob Knight disciple.  He's a former IU assistant and a stand up guy.  No whispers about impropriety follow him.  His players graduate and are good citizens.  So then what prompted Army to launch him a mere three weeks before practice starts?

In his statement announcing Crews' dismissal, Army AD Kevin Anderson said:

"There was a series of events that led me down the path to determine that I needed to make a change in leadership of the men's basketball program and terminate coach Crews' contract. I am very disappointed with some things that have come to my attention in recent days and I have decided that it is in the best interests of the basketball program and the institution to terminate our relationship."

So what could possibly have happened?  An Army cheating scandal like there was in football sixty years ago?  Side betting on Navy?  Preaching pacifism at team workouts?  No, none of the above.  It seems the reason is that Crews yelled at a cadet.

The incident with the cadet was a smokescreen for much deeper issues. Even Crews is a little confused about why he was terminated, but the bottom line is this is your classic "give me a reason" dismissal.  Crews wasn't Anderson's guy, Anderson didn't hire him and Anderson didn't necessarily like the direction the program was headed in.  As the saying goes, Anderson wanted the program to get to the next level and he didn't think Crews could get it there. 

Sadly, Army is the kind of program that recruits young men eager to serve their country, not play in the NBA.  While the Black Knights may make the round of 64 from time to time, the Patriot League is a one shot deal.  In Army's case, it far more important to turn out our future military minds than winning basketball teams.  Army will have to look hard to find another coach with the integrity Jim Crews brought to the table. It's a typical good man loses his job because of idiot boss scenario. And it's unfortunate that it comes in a culture that values the kind of person Crews is.

Don't worry.  Jim Crews will not be unemployed long.