June 4, 2008
From Army Athletic Communications
West Point, N.Y. - For the third straight summer, Army men's basketball Coach Jim Crews will travel to the Persian Gulf as part of a USO Program. After participating in Operation Hardwood in 2006 and 2007, Crews will be one of six college coaches to be part of Operation Hoop Talk.
During the USO's newest sports entertainment initiative, "Operation Hoop Talk: Talking Hoops with the Troops," the basketball coaches will share insider tips, host free basketball clinics and tour multiple military posts. The group will also pose for photos, sign autographs and spend quality time talking with military players about the game of basketball. Among those touring are:
• Jeff Bzdelik: University of Colorado
• Ed Conroy: The Citadel
• Jim Crews: United States Military Academy (West Point)
• Dave Leitao: University of Virginia
• Jeff Nix: New York Knicks (former)/President of Camouflage Kids, Inc.
• Gary Stewart: University of California Davis
Modeled after the hugely popular Operation Links, Gridiron and Hardwood series', "Operation Hoop Talk" continues the USO's commitment to bringing top sports figures and sports-related events to troops stationed overseas. Created to help boost troop morale and bring a touch of home to those in uniform, the initiative allows coaches, professional sports figures and military players the opportunity to establish relationships, and have fun in a competitive environment.
"The USO is excited to unveil Operation Hoop Talk," said president and CEO Edward Powell. "When we send out tours to entertain the troops, our emphasis is always on what our men and women in uniform want to see. They shouldn't just work hard, they should play hard. Learning from America's best basketball coaches is one of our gifts to them."
Crews just completed his sixth season as the head basketball coach at West Point. The 23-year head coaching veteran guided the Black Knights to their second consecutive appearance in the Patriot League semifinals, and Army's 29 victories in the last two seasons mark the largest two-year victory total since the 1970s. Crews mentored standout guard Jarell Brown to first-team All-Patriot League honors in 2008, the Black Knights' first first-team all-League performer since 1999. Crews also coached at the University of Evansville for 17 seasons and was recently inducted into to the Purple Aces' athletic hall of fame.
