Report: Army Coach Fired After Putting Hands on Player

Army basketball coach Jim Crews was fired this week for reasons that the West Point brass has not made clear -- but one report suggests it was the result of Crews putting his hands on a player during a practice.

Army released a terse statement from Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson Thursday morning:

"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," Anderson stated. "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."

Crews did not have a particularly strong record on the court at Army, going 60-139 in seven seasons, including 11-19 last year. But if his firing were for the team's record, it would have happened at the end of last season, not just a few weeks before this season's practice starts. So something more must be going on, even though Army isn't saying what that "series of events" Anderson refers to is.

The Times Herald-Record, however, is reporting that West Point sources say Crews may have been fired in part for putting his hands on a men's basketball player during a workout or practice. Putting your hands on a subordinate is a major no-no in the military -- just ask George S. Patton.

So while we don't know for sure why Army fired Crews, and Crews himself isn't talking, the emerging story is of a coach who lost his job for impermissible contact with a student. Coincidentally, Crews played at Indiana for Bob Knight.

To stay updated on this story and other college sports news, follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.