Jason Crafton

American basketball coach
Jason Crafton
Crafton in 2023
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamMaryland Eastern Shore
ConferenceMEAC
Record43–76 (.361)
Biographical details
Born (1982-01-30) January 30, 1982 (age 42)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1999–2003Nyack
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2005Villanova (video coordinator)
2005–2010Navy (assistant)
2010–2012Navy (associate HC)
2012–2018Nyack
2018–2019Delaware Blue Coats (assistant)
2019–presentMaryland Eastern Shore
Head coaching record
Overall90–184 (.328)
Tournaments0–1 (TBC)

Jason Crafton (born January 30, 1982) is an American basketball coach. He's the current head coach of the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball.[1]

Playing career

Crafton played college basketball at Nyack College, where he was named team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was also a member of the schools only CACC Championship Team in the 1999-2000 season. [1]

Coaching career

After graduation, Crafton joined Jay Wright's staff at Villanova as a video coordinator for two seasons until 2005, when he accepted an assistant coaching position at Navy where he'd serve under fellow former Villanova staffer Billy Lange as well as a season under Ed DeChellis.[2] Crafton would return to Nyack to become the school's head men's basketball coach where from 2012–2018 he compiled a 47–108 record before accepting an assistant coaching position with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League.[3][4]

On April 24,2019 Crafton was named the head coach at Maryland Eastern Shore.[1][5]

The 2022-23 season was a historic one in many ways for Hawk Basketball. Crafton’s squad finished 18-13, leading to the program’s best win percentage (.581) in 50 years and the most wins in a season of Crafton’s coaching career. The team broke last season’s school records in steals (345) and steals-per-game (11.1). Their per-game clip ranked #1 in the nation this season, while the team also ranked #1 nationally in turnovers forced per contest (19.0). Crafton guided the Hawks to a 10-3 record at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the best home mark for the program since the 1973-74 season. The team also logged significant non-conference wins at Temple on December 20 and Columbia on December 28. The Hawks finished the first half of MEAC play at 6-1, the best Division I record to open league play in 50 years. Under Crafton, forward Nathaniel Pollard Jr. was named to the All-MEAC Second Team and guard Zion Styles received All-MEAC Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Pollard was also named to the 2023 HBCU All-Star Game in Houston, Texas. Crafton was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Coach of the Year award, recognizing the top Division I minority coach annually.[6]

Head coaching record

NCAA DII

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Nyack (CACC) (2012–2018)
2012–13 Nyack 5–20 3–15 7th (North)
2013–14 Nyack 10–16 8–11 5th (North)
2014–15 Nyack 7–19 6–13 6th (North)
2015–16 Nyack 11–15 8–11 5th (North)
2016–17 Nyack 7–19 3–16 7th (North)
2017–18 Nyack 7–19 7–12 5th (North)
Nyack: 47–108 (.303) 35–78 (.310)
Total: 47–108 (.303)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NCAA DI

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Maryland Eastern Shore (MEAC) (2019–present)
2019–20 Maryland Eastern Shore 5–27 4–12 T–9th
2020–21 Maryland Eastern Shore Season Canceled (Covid) N/A N/A N/A
2021–22 Maryland Eastern Shore 11–16 6–8 T–6th TBC First Round
2022–23 Maryland Eastern Shore 18–13 9–5 T–3rd
2023–24 Maryland Eastern Shore 9–20 4–10 7th
Maryland Eastern Shore: 43–76 (.361) 23–35 (.397)
Total: 43–76 (.361)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ a b c "Hawks hire Jason Crafton as new steward of basketball program". University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics.
  2. ^ "Matt Sladky and Jason Crafton Join Navy Men's Basketball Staff". Naval Academy Athletics.
  3. ^ "Blue Coats Announce Basketball Operations Staff". Delaware Blue Coats.
  4. ^ "Warrior Men's Basketball Head Coach Accepts NBA G-League Coaching Position". Nyack. 14 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Philadelphia 76ers G-League assistant hired as next UMES men's basketball coach". Delmarva Daily Times.
  6. ^ https://easternshorehawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jason-crafton/1348
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Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball head coaches
  • Records lost pre-1950
  • Vernon McCain (1950–1954)
  • Nathaniel Taylor (1954–1966)
  • Joe Robinson (1966–1971)
  • John Bates (1971–1974)
  • Dan Jones (1974–1976)
  • Kirkland Hall (1976–1984)
  • Howie Evans (1984–1987)
  • Steve Williams (1987–1990)
  • Bob Hopkins (1990–1991)
  • Bob Wilkerson # (1991–1992)
  • Rob Chavez (1992–1994)
  • Jeff Menday (1994–1996)
  • Lonnie Williams (1996–2000)
  • Thomas Trotter (2000–2004)
  • Larry Lessett (2004–2007)
  • Meredith Smith (2007–2008)
  • Frankie Allen (2008–2014)
  • Bobby Collins (2014–2018)
  • Clifford Reed # (2018–2019)
  • Jason Crafton (2019– )

# denotes interim head coach

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Men's basketball head coaches of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
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