crews spent the first 13 years of his adult life at indiana university under bob knight. he played on the 1976 ncaa championship-winning team, the last undefeated champion in the men's division. after graduating, he served as an assistant on knight's staff for eight years before moving to the university of evansville in 1985. in 17 years, he led the purple aces to five ncaa tournaments. his best team was the 1988-89 unit, which tallied the school's only ncaa tournament win to date. he then coached at the united states military academy for seven years.