Sports

The journey of Saint Louis’ coach and his Brooklyn pastor son

Do the next right thing.

It’s a tenet that can be heard in the huddles of the Saint Louis basketball team and the halls of Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Think of it as a family motto.

Brooklyn pastor Todd Crews will spend Friday in the stands at the Barclays Center, watching his father coach Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 Tournament and mold young men’s lives. On Thursday Billikens coach Jim Crews had visited Brooklyn Tabernacle around the way on Smith Street, where his son saves people’s souls.

“I always said the good Lord has a plan. Sometimes we don’t understand what it is,’’ chuckled the elder Crews, whose top-seeded Billikens (26-5) open their title defense against St. Bonaventure. And both see it as something bigger than just dumb luck that brought them together in Brooklyn this week.

“That’s been an incredible blessing and surprise,’’ said Todd, who tells a tale that does strain credulity.

Back when Jim was in the midst of a seven-year stint as head coach at Army, and Todd was a 19-year-old starting out at Christian school Palm Beach Atlantic University, the latter came up to visit and happened to hear about a church with a Grammy-winning choir and a line out the door.

“I’d heard of people standing in line to get into the club, but never church. I came and fell in love with the church, the people, the city and what God was doing here,’’ said Todd, who never forgot that visit, even as graduation approached years later. Trouble is, he didn’t know Brooklyn, or anybody at the church.

But ask and ye shall receive.

Jim and Todd were at the 2006 Final Four in Indianapolis and got handed tickets to a Pacers game, where they ended up sitting by New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay.

“He asked, ‘What was I doing with my life?’ ” Todd said. “I said, ‘Well, there’s this church up in New York I’d love to be a part of.’ He asked, ‘What’s the name?’ I said, ‘Brooklyn Tabernacle.’ He got this surprised look, and said one of my best friends (Craig Holliday) is a pastor there and happens to be here.’ It’s a wild coincidence, and I don’t believe in coincidences, so I took it as a sign from God.’’

Pastor Todd Crews of Brooklyn Tabernacle Church (right) and his father Saint Louis Billikens basketball coach Jim Crews. Todd Crews’ son Canaan is sitting on Jim Crews lap.Ron Antonelli

So after graduation Todd packed up his car and drove from Florida for a volunteer position in the library that paid lunch money and a Metrocard.

But in the end he got so much more, finding not only his calling but meeting his wife, Nicole, a model who’d come from Germany and was serving in the same ministry. Now they have a nine-month-old son, Canaan, named after the Promised Land. It’s funny how these things work out.

Jim found out the same thing after being fired by Army in 2009. After 30 years he had no plans of returning to coaching, until friend Rick Majerus called and asked him to fill a last-minute opening on Saint Louis’ staff just before the 2011 season.

When Majerus’ heart condition forced him to step down before last season, Jim led Saint Louis to the A-10 crown. Majerus passed away in December 2012.

“The future’s never as clear as we want it to be, or think it should be,’’ Jim said. “I wasn’t looking to get back into it. I’d enjoyed a good run, from doing nothing to coaching 3rd grade boys and 6th grade girls. But Rick called and said, ‘Will you come down? It’s a short-term thing,’ and short term lasted long term.’’

Jim has a program built for the long term, with a school-record 28 wins last year, the A-10 crown and Coach of the Year honors. He came to town Sunday night with a team poised to defend its title, and found time to have the players visit West Point on Monday, see “Motown” on Tuesday and Times Square Wednesday.

“My dad always keeps things in perspective. He’s always been a better mentor, teacher and leader than coach,’’ Todd said. “God cares more about your character. Your reputation’s what people think you are; character is who you really are. There are similarities in that we’re both trying to inspire people, dealing with problems.’’

Jim acknowledges Todd’s job is more vital, even if his son is too humble to. But the similarity is dealing with people.

“His is a little more important than mine, but you’re dealing with people,” Jim said. “It’s always about people. The world doesn’t need more good ballplayers, but needs more good husbands, good fathers, good leaders in the community. That’s what we use basketball for,’’ said Jim, whose Do The Next Right Thing mantra even found its way into Todd’s recent counseling of a married couple.

“The premise is we all get knocked down in life, we make mistakes. The thing we’re responsible for is to do the next right thing. People make the bigger mistakes after their first mistake. It might be opening the door for a lady, or smiling at somebody or studying for a test. Just do the next right thing.’’