Army Football Coach Jeff Monken Addresses AAC Rumors

The AAC is reportedly exploring adding Army as a football-only member

© Patrick Oehler/Times Herald-Record / USA TODAY NETWORK

On Saturday night, the Army Black Knights opened the 2023 season with a road loss against the ULM Warhawks. 

Earlier in the day, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the American Athletic Conference was exploring the option of adding Army as a football-only member. This would be in an effort to replace SMU, who will join the ACC next season, and bring the American back to an even number of football teams for the 2024 season and beyond. 

In his weekly media availability on Tuesday, Army head coach Jeff Monken was asked about the report and offered the following response:

"I've talked about this before. I think with conference realignment and just the changing landscape of college football, we have very much embraced and valued our independence. I think it's great for this university, for this program, to have national exposure like we have. But, as I've said many times, there may come a time where we don't have a choice...where the best decision for this institution and this program may be to join a conference. That time may be now. I don't know."

Monken went on to declare that the decision is ultimately up to his bosses and the higher ups at West Point. 

"That's not a Jeff Monken decision," the main now in his tenth year of coaching the Black Knights said. "I value our independency. I think it's fantastic to be able to play people all over the country. I also see the changing landscape of college football and the realignment of conferences and the value of aligning our program with a conference. So, it's something we've got to look at and look at strongly."

Per Thamel's report, the AAC has other options to replace SMU in mind, but Army is the only one that has been actually been contacted about the idea. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said earlier this week that the league would not look westward to expand, referring to Pac-12 leftovers Oregon State University and Washington State University.

The Black Knights have been an FBS Independent since the 2005 season. From 1998 to 2004, they were a member of Conference USA. Prior to that, they were an independent from 1891 to 1998.

Army will continue the 2023 season on September 9 when they host Delaware State.