Bowling Green State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Running Backs)
- Email:
- falconrecruit@bgsu.edu
- Phone:
- 419-372-7083
| Coach Crawford | |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Montgomery, Ala. |
| College | Vanderbilt (2019) |
| Family | Wife Ashanti, and son Crew |
| Coaching History | |
| 2021 | Tennessee State, Def. Graduate Asst. |
| 2022 | Utah, Offensive Graduate Assistant |
| 2023-24 | Tennessee State, Running Backs |
| 2025-pres. | Bowling Green, Running Backs |
Crawford made a significant impact during his time at Tennessee State. Tasked with leading and developing the Tigers’ backfield, Crawford coached and mentored two All-Americans and multiple all-conference performers over two seasons. Under his leadership, TSU’s running backs demonstrated exceptional ball security, totaling 640 touches with only two fumbles lost. One of Crawford’s standout pupils, Jordan Gant, emerged as one of the top young talents in the FCS, earning Freshman All-America honors from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele, along with second-team All-Big South/OVC accolades. Gant rushed for 10 touchdowns in 2023—the most by a TSU player in over a decade—and continued his rise in 2024 as a Deacon Trophy and HBCU+ National Player of the Year Watch List honoree.
Crawford also made his mark on special teams, coaching returners across all units, including kickoff and punt return. His impact was felt immediately, as Tennessee State led the conference and ranked third nationally in kickoff return average in 2024 (32.3 yards per return), while tying for the FCS lead in kickoff return touchdowns (2). One of his premier returners, CJ Evans, garnered first-team All-Big South/OVC honors as a kick returner and second team honors as an all-purpose player. Evans totaled 1,350 all-purpose yards and scored nine touchdowns, averaging an impressive 9.6 yards per touch. Crawford’s ability to maximize talent and foster consistent production made him an invaluable asset during his time in Nashville.
Crawford joined the TSU staff after serving one year as an offensive graduate assistant at Utah. While at Utah, he worked primarily with the wide receivers, assisting with scouting reports and scout team responsibilities. Crawford and the Utes won the 2022 Pac-12 Championship.ÂPrior to coming to Salt Lake City, he enjoyed his first stint at TSU as a graduate assistant during George's first season in Nashville. He worked closely with the linebackers, running the scout team along with coaching second-team all-conference selection James Green.
Crawford was a coach at the Orleans Darkwa Youth Football Camp from 2017-18, implementing new skills and drills to develop skill sets among players at the camp. He also spent four seasons at the Autauga Academy in Alabama, working closely with the head coach and offensive coordinator to help develop the quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs.
He graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in medicine, health, and society along with a minor in corporate strategy in 2019. He played football all four years, helping the program to the Independence Bowl in 2016 and the Texas Bowl in 2018.
Crawford and his wife, Ashanti, have a son, Crew.
