Army West Point Athletics
Allen Promoted to Associate Head Coach
July 08, 2015 | Men's Basketball
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point men's basketball assistant coach Jimmy Allen has been promoted to serve as the program's Associate Head Coach, head coach Zach Spiker announced Wednesday. The 2015-16 season will mark Allen's sixth on the sidelines at West Point.
"Jimmy Allen is a builder," Spiker said. "Each time he has been involved with a program throughout his coaching career, it has improved, and our program is no exception. We are very appreciative of his dedication and the loyalty he has shown to our program over the past five years and he is very deserving of this title."
Since joining Spiker's staff following the 2009-10 season, Allen has helped elevate Army West Point to a consistent Patriot League contender. Last year, the Black Knights reached 15 victories for the third consecutive year, marking the first time the program recorded three straight 15-win campaigns since Bob Knight's teams each won at least 15 from 1967-70.
In addition, the team captured the 2014 All-Military Classic presented by USAA Championship with victories over Air Force and VMI. The campaign also featured another signature victory as the Black Knights knocked off USC, 85-77 in overtime, to secure their first win against a Pac-12 team since 1964.
The program also excelled in the classroom in 2014-15 and posted its highest team grade-point average in 10 years with a 2.84 GPA in the fall semester. In total, 12 West Point Dean's List certificates were handed out to men's basketball players last season.
Allen mentored Second Team All-Patriot League selection Tanner Plomb and third-team honoree Kyle Wilson. Plomb was second on the team in scoring and rebounding, while Wilson led the conference in points per game. In total, 12 All-Patriot League honors have been handed out to Army West Point players under Allen's watch, including Nathan Hedgecock's Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition, a pair for first-team nods for Ella Ellis and Wilson's Rookie of the Year award in 2013.
"I couldn't think of a more deserving coach to be named Associate Head Coach," Ellis, a 2013 USMA graduate said. "Coach Allen has contributed so much to this program through his recruiting prowess, defensive philosophies, and player development. He has been a major factor in the steps forward this program has taken and this promotion is evident of that.
"The three years Coach Allen coached me, he pushed me to excel in every aspect of the game," Ellis continued. "He helped bring out the best in me through adversity and though victory and that has translated beyond basketball. He has truly made a difference, and as an alumnus and an officer there is no better thing than to see coaches make a difference in their players' lives on and off the court."
Allen joined Spiker's staff after serving six successful seasons as the head coach at Averett University in Danville, Va. In his six seasons with the Division III Cougars, Allen posted a 97-70 (.581) overall record, guiding the program to three 20-win seasons, three USA South Athletic Conference titles, three USASAC tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Prior to his arrival at Averett, Allen spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach, including eight at the Division I level. Before taking his first head coaching position, Allen worked for two seasons as the associate head coach at Wofford College following his six years as an assistant at Navy under Don DeVoe from 1996-2002. During his tenure with the Mids, Navy won the Patriot League championship and earned NCAA Tournament berths in 1997 and 1998. Allen helped the Mids to three 20-win seasons in his six years in Annapolis.
Prior to his stint at Navy, Allen began his coaching career at Emory & Henry, his alma mater, working with the Wasps from 1993-96.
A 1993 graduate of Emory & Henry with a bachelor's degree in accounting, Allen played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments during his undergraduate career. The Wasps won 20 games each of his four seasons and advanced the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA postseason on two occasions.
Allen's father, James, graduated from West Point in 1967 and later returned as a chemistry instructor. During his father's tenure as a professor, Allen attended West Point elementary school for three years and James I. O'Neill High School through the 10th grade.
"Jimmy Allen is a builder," Spiker said. "Each time he has been involved with a program throughout his coaching career, it has improved, and our program is no exception. We are very appreciative of his dedication and the loyalty he has shown to our program over the past five years and he is very deserving of this title."
Since joining Spiker's staff following the 2009-10 season, Allen has helped elevate Army West Point to a consistent Patriot League contender. Last year, the Black Knights reached 15 victories for the third consecutive year, marking the first time the program recorded three straight 15-win campaigns since Bob Knight's teams each won at least 15 from 1967-70.
In addition, the team captured the 2014 All-Military Classic presented by USAA Championship with victories over Air Force and VMI. The campaign also featured another signature victory as the Black Knights knocked off USC, 85-77 in overtime, to secure their first win against a Pac-12 team since 1964.
The program also excelled in the classroom in 2014-15 and posted its highest team grade-point average in 10 years with a 2.84 GPA in the fall semester. In total, 12 West Point Dean's List certificates were handed out to men's basketball players last season.
Allen mentored Second Team All-Patriot League selection Tanner Plomb and third-team honoree Kyle Wilson. Plomb was second on the team in scoring and rebounding, while Wilson led the conference in points per game. In total, 12 All-Patriot League honors have been handed out to Army West Point players under Allen's watch, including Nathan Hedgecock's Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition, a pair for first-team nods for Ella Ellis and Wilson's Rookie of the Year award in 2013.
"I couldn't think of a more deserving coach to be named Associate Head Coach," Ellis, a 2013 USMA graduate said. "Coach Allen has contributed so much to this program through his recruiting prowess, defensive philosophies, and player development. He has been a major factor in the steps forward this program has taken and this promotion is evident of that.
"The three years Coach Allen coached me, he pushed me to excel in every aspect of the game," Ellis continued. "He helped bring out the best in me through adversity and though victory and that has translated beyond basketball. He has truly made a difference, and as an alumnus and an officer there is no better thing than to see coaches make a difference in their players' lives on and off the court."
Allen joined Spiker's staff after serving six successful seasons as the head coach at Averett University in Danville, Va. In his six seasons with the Division III Cougars, Allen posted a 97-70 (.581) overall record, guiding the program to three 20-win seasons, three USA South Athletic Conference titles, three USASAC tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Prior to his arrival at Averett, Allen spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach, including eight at the Division I level. Before taking his first head coaching position, Allen worked for two seasons as the associate head coach at Wofford College following his six years as an assistant at Navy under Don DeVoe from 1996-2002. During his tenure with the Mids, Navy won the Patriot League championship and earned NCAA Tournament berths in 1997 and 1998. Allen helped the Mids to three 20-win seasons in his six years in Annapolis.
Prior to his stint at Navy, Allen began his coaching career at Emory & Henry, his alma mater, working with the Wasps from 1993-96.
A 1993 graduate of Emory & Henry with a bachelor's degree in accounting, Allen played in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments during his undergraduate career. The Wasps won 20 games each of his four seasons and advanced the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA postseason on two occasions.
Allen's father, James, graduated from West Point in 1967 and later returned as a chemistry instructor. During his father's tenure as a professor, Allen attended West Point elementary school for three years and James I. O'Neill High School through the 10th grade.
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