Jim Crews laughs with reporters after it was announced he has been named the new head coach of the Saint Louis University Billikens mens basketball team in St. Louis on April 12, 2013. Crews led the 2012-13 team as interim head coach at the beginning of the season after it was announced that head coach Rick Majerus would not coach. Majerus died on December 1, 2012. After winning a school record 28 games this season, Crews was named A-10 coach of the year and Sporting News  and the National Asociation of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year as well. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Jim Crews laughs with reporters after it was announced he has been named the new head coach of the Saint Louis University Billikens mens basketball team in St. Louis on April 12, 2013. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Jim Crews, who led the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team to unprecedented success in 2012-13 as interim head coach, has been named the Billikens’ head coach.  Crews was named interim head coach at the beginning of the 2012-13 season when it was announced that Rick Majerus would not coach this season. Majerus died Dec. 1. Crews led the Billikens to a school-record 28 victories (28-7), Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a second straight NCAA Tournament bid.

“I have said from day one that it is about the people – the players, staff, administration and fans – and the people here are 100 percent committed to this team and this program,” Crews said. “I’ve seen first hand the values that Saint Louis University possesses, and I believe strongly in those same values. They are paramount in the college experience. Moving forward, nothing changes. As a staff, our philosophy is to continue to get better each and every day, on the court and off the court, and we continue to do that.”

Crews earned national coach of the year awards from the Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was one of four finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award. In addition, he earned his fifth conference coach of the year honor when he was named A-10 Coach of the Year.

The Billikens return seven players who saw action in 25 or more games during the 2012-13 season, including first-team All-Conference pick and leading scorer and rebounder Dwayne Evans. Regulars Mike McCall Jr., Jordair Jett and Rob Loe also return next season to comprise one of the most experienced senior classes in the country.