COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Army names Spiker men's hoops coach

  
  

  West Point, NY (Sports Network) - Army has named Zach Spiker its new men's basketball coach.

  Spiker takes over for Jim Crews, who was fired on September 24 after seven seasons and a record of 60-139 with the U.S. Military Academy.

  This marks the first head coaching assignment for Spiker, who spent the past five seasons as an assistant at Cornell. He also worked as a graduate assistant at Winthrop from 2000-02 and as an administrative assistant at his hometown school, West Virginia, from 2002-04.

  "Zach is highly regarded by some of the most well-respected coaches in the country," said Army athletic director Kevin Anderson. "He is widely recognized as one of the true young talents in the coaching profession and someone we feel is ready to lead our program to a Patriot League championship." Spiker helped Cornell to a record of 85-57 during his five years with a pair of Ivy League titles the past two seasons.

  "I am extremely humbled and excited by the opportunity that Mr. Anderson has given me to coach at West Point," said Spiker. "I can't wait to get to work, and I am looking forward to serving this senior class to make this season the best it can be. I am confident we will all work together and make this a great experience for everybody." Spiker, a Morgantown, West Virginia native, is a 2000 graduate of Ithaca College.

  10/03 12:12:34 ET