The Army Black Knights posted their highest win total since the 2015-16 season this year. Despite that, the team announced on Wednesday morning that they planned to go in a new direction.
Army shockingly parted ways with head coach Jimmy Allen. Stadium college basketball insider Jeff Goodman reported the news on Twitter.
“Army has parted ways with head coach Jimmy Allen,” Goodman tweeted.
Army has parted ways with head coach Jimmy Allen, source told @Stadium.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 8, 2023
Army went 17-16 in the 2022-23 season. That’s a better record than any season the team has posted since they went 19-14 in the 2015-16 campaign. Allen had overseen other seasons far worse than this after he took over as head coach.
It’s true they were mostly .500, but recruiting for Army is so vastly different than nearly every other program. It makes the firing a bit confusing and perhaps more than a bit shocking.
The college basketball world reacted to the shocking coach firing.
Jack Godar of A-10 Talk tweeted, “I can’t believe 17-win Army got rid of their head coach before 10-win Holy Cross…”
I can't believe 17 win Army got rid of their head coach before 10 win Holy Cross… https://t.co/yBc8GhbLJ2
— Jack Godar (@JackGodar) March 8, 2023
One user speculated, “Maybe there is more to this, but firing Army COach after 10-8 season in league seems like a lack of rationality on admins part. Army a significantly tougher job than Navy + ten you have to compete with the rest of non-academy league. Likely due to lower finish than Navy last 3 yrs.”
Maybe there is more to this, but firing Army Coach after 10-8 season in league seems like a lack of rationality on admins part. Army a significantly tougher job than Navy + then you have to compete with rest of non-academy league. Likely due to lower finish than Navy last 3 yrs. https://t.co/MoSnfwy05U
— Ryan Patrick, Esq. (@CoachRPDubs) March 8, 2023
Another said they were “really shocked by this one.”
Really shocked by this one https://t.co/ZBmc6cyqYA
— Scott Strasemeier (@ScottStras) March 8, 2023
Another fan said that Bucknell, who recently fired their coach, should pursue him now.
Bucknell should be calling him right now. https://t.co/LxiHGF3Pfj
— Mike Althouse (@USNA86) March 8, 2023
