Report: Air Force hiring Penn State basketball assistant Joe Crispin as next head coach

Joe Crispin is getting his first head coaching opportunity at the Division I level. According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the Air Force Falcons are set to hire Crispin as their next head coach, bringing in a rising offensive mind with deep ties to the Penn State Nittany Lions. 

The move marks a significant step for Crispin, who has quickly built a reputation as a key architect on Penn State’s staff. He’s spent the last two seasons on the staff under Mike Rhoades, helping guide an impressive offense for the program.

During the 2024–25 campaign, Penn State averaged a program-record 79.1 points per game, including multiple 100-point performances and marquee wins over ranked opponents. His impact was immediate, as the Nittany Lions also saw a notable offensive jump in his first season, averaging more than 75 points per game.

Before returning to his alma mater, Crispin built an impressive résumé at the Division III level. As head coach at Rowan University in New Jersey, he compiled a 114-54 record across seven seasons, leading the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, two conference championships and a Sweet 16 run in 2023. His teams consistently ranked among the nation’s most explosive offensively, averaging over 80 points per game in each of his final six seasons.

Moreover, Crispin’s coaching rise follows a decorated playing career. A Penn State legend, he ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in scoring, assists and three-pointers, and helped lead the Nittany Lions to the 2001 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. He later spent more than a decade playing professionally, including a stint with the Los Angeles Lakers and a lengthy career overseas.

Now, Crispin takes over an Air Force program looking for a new direction after recent struggles. With a proven offensive track record and experience developing talent at multiple levels, he arrives in Colorado Springs with momentum and the opportunity to translate his success into the Mountain West.

He’ll succeed Joe Scott, who was fired in January, and Jon Jordan, who was the interim coach of the Falcons. It was a brutal season as a whole for Air Force, as they went 4–28 on the year, but Crispin is hoping he’s the guy who can lead them to a resurgence moving forward.