Jim Crews, an owner of 354 career wins in 24 head-coaching campaigns at Army and Evansville, begins his second season on the Billikens' staff. He was tabbed interim head coach on August 24, 2012, after it was announced that head coach Rick Majerus would take a leave of absence as he undergoes evaluation and treatment for a heart condition.

Crews is no stranger to success, having been a part of 14 NCAA Tournaments as a player, assistant coach and head coach. That experience paid immediate dividends last season. The 2011-12 season was one of the most memorable in recent history. Crews helped Saint Louis post a 26-8 record, the second-most wins of all time. The Billikens earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and beat Memphis in the second round.

Prior to joining the SLU staff, Crews served as head coach of Army for seven seasons, beginning with the 2002-03 campaign. Preceding his appointment at West Point, Crews coached for 17 years at Evansville and played and coached at Indiana. He has a career head coaching record of 354-348 in 24 seasons.

Crews had a successful 17-year stint at Evansville from 1985-2002, accumulating a 294-209 record. He guided the Purple Aces to six postseason appearances, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament. All six of those squads registered at least 21 victories. A four-time conference coach of the year (1987, 1989, 1992 Midwestern Collegiate; 1999 Missouri Valley), Crews is the only coach in the tradition-rich history of Evansville to post nine consecutive non-losing seasons.

Perhaps what Crews is most known for is his ability to graduate players. During his tenure at Evansville, 52 of the 53 players who spent four years with the Purple Aces earned a degree. Every senior in Crews' final 12 years graduated. At Army, he graduated all 30 four-year players who came through his program.

Crews learned from the legendary Bob Knight at Indiana for 12 seasons, four as a player and eight as an assistant coach.

During his four-year playing career from 1972 to 1976, the Hoosiers forged a remarkable 108-12 record. As a senior in 1976, Crews helped IU to a 32-0 record and a national championship, the last time a Division I men's program has posted an undefeated record.

After graduating from Indiana, Crews returned for an eight-year stint on Knight's coaching staff. Indiana captured another national championship in 1981, won three Big Ten championships (1980, 1981 and 1983) and posted a 174-76 record during his tenure as an assistant.

Crews, a native of Normal, Ill., has a wife, Kim, and two children, a daughter Abby and a son Todd.