IUPUI hires former star player Matt Crenshaw as head coach

<p>INDIANAPOLIS &mdash; IUPUI hired former basketball star Matt Crenshaw as its head coach on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The decision could bring stability back to the program after two seasons of uncertainty. Jason Gardner resigned as coach in August 2019 after he was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The Jaguars promoted Byron Rimm II to interim head coach, then kept him last season, without the interim title, in part because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the school from conducting a full coaching search.</p>
<p>Crenshaw spent the past three seasons on Ball State’s coaching staff, serving as co-defensive coordinator. He spent the previous 12 seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, including seven seasons as associate head coach.</p>
<p>“IUPUI has meant so much to me over the course of my time here as a student-athlete, a coach and alum," Crenshaw said in a statement. “We will strive to not only reach the same level of success as we’ve had in the past, but also make greater strides in the future."</p>
<p>In 2003, Crenshaw’s last-second jumper in the Mid-Continent Conference championship game sent the Jaguars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance.</p>
<p>Crenshaw finished his career with 923 points, 510 assists and 157 steals, is a member of the IUPUI athletic hall of fame and is one of three players in school history who has had his number retired.</p>
<p>Rimm went 15-35 over the past two seasons.</p>
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