AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) 鈥� Air Force hired Penn State assistant Joe Crispin on Wednesday as the coach.
Crispin inherits the program from , who mutually parted ways with the Falcons last month after he was suspended pending an investigation into his treatment of cadets in January.
The 46-year-old Crispin was the assistant to the head coach at Penn State since 2023. Before that, he was the head coach at Rowan University, where he went 114-54.
Crispin takes over a Falcons team that finished 3-29 this season. They haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2005-06.
鈥淚 am confident that as we cultivate men of integrity, service, and excellence in everything, our team will compete at the highest level and play in a way that makes our entire Academy community proud,鈥� Crispin said in a statement. “My family and I can鈥檛 wait to get started and are honored to represent the Air Force Academy.鈥�
Crispin was a standout player for the Nittany Lions, leading the team to the Sweet 16 in 2001. He ranks fourth in school history in scoring (1,986 points) and 3-pointers (308). Crispin spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns in 2001-02 before a long career in Europe.
鈥淐oach Crispin is an impressive leader, and he separated himself from a deep candidate pool as absolutely the right person to lead Air Force men鈥檚 basketball into the future,鈥� athletic director Nathan Pine said. 鈥淗e is passionate about player development, joy for the game and using the sport of basketball to develop young men. He has been a successful leader as a collegiate and professional player, assistant and head coach, and I鈥檓 confident he will set the example.鈥�
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up and (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: and
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
