By Curtis Ford, Grambling State Associate AD for Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING — The Grambling State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Trayvean D. Scott introduced Patrick Crarey II as the 14th head coach of the GSU Men’s Basketball program on Frdiay morning.
“Coach Patrick Crarey II is the right leader at the right time for Grambling State Men’s Basketball,” said Scott. “His track record of winning, his commitment to developing young men, and his relentless drive align perfectly with the standard of excellence we are building across our athletics program. I have no doubt he will lead this program to national prominence and sustained success.”
Crarey comes to Grambling State after spending one season as the head coach at Florida A&M. Crarey reignited the FAMU men’s basketball program, exceeding expectations and guiding the Rattlers to the SWAC Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2022. He led the Rattlers to a 13-16 overall record and a 10-8 mark in conference play. He also coached Sterling Young, who was named the SWAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Prior to coaching at FAMU, he served as head coach at St. Thomas University for three years, posting a 61-27 record with two consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and three straight winning seasons.
Crarey led the Bobcats to a 22-9, 10-4 record in 2023-24 and were the Sun Conference Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats made it to the NAIA Tournament 2nd Round and finished the season ranked 21st in the nation. The Bobcats regular season success led to Crarey being named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Crarey and the Bobcats saw a league-high five members selected to the All-Conference teams led by Milton Matthews, Josh Taylor, and Cearius Warren on the first team, and Anthony Harris and Jordan Hernandez on the second team. Matthews was also named to the NAIA All-American 2nd Team.
In 2022-23, Crarey led the Bobcats to a historic season, winning a program-high 26 games, set the best home record in program history (15-1), and had the highest finish in program history concluding the season in the NAIA Round of 16 (as NAIA Division I member). The veteran coach also set a new single-season program record with his first recruiting class as Fred Mulbah became the first Bobcat with 200 assists and set the record at 241. Dalon Dean and Milton Matthews became the new No. 1 and No. 2 in 3-point baskets made in a single season in 111 and 100, respectively. The Bobcats had three All-Conference members that season with Mulbah and Matthews also notching NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors.
In Crarey’s first season at St. Thomas, the Bobcats led the Sun Conference with four All-Conference selections. Three players from the 2021-22 team, Augustus Stone (Taiwain), Dwayne Russell (Argentina), and Jahsim Floyd (Kosovo), all netted professional contracts.
Crarey spent a decade as the men’s basketball coach and as the Athletic Director at Washington Adventist University (MD). During his tenure at Washington Adventist, Crarey led the Shock to a National Championship in 2014, was recognized as the conference coach of the year twice (ICAA/2014, AII/2017), and set the program record for wins in a single season (23/2020). Crarey also led the Shock to an A.I.I Conference Championship in 2017. Several of Crarey’s former players have gone on to play professional basketball in various leagues, including the National Basketball Association – G-League, France, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Kosovo, and Bahrain.
PERSONAL
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Education: Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise (La Sierra, 2007)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Grambling State – Head Coach (Present)
Florida A&M University – Head Coach (2024-2025)
St. Thomas University – Head Coach (2021-2024)
Washington Adventist University – Head Coach (2010-2021)
Takoma Academy – Head Boy’s Basketball Coach (2009-2010)
La Sierra University – Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator (2005-2008)
COACHING ACCOLADES
2014 USCAA Men’s Division I National Champions
2014 ICAA Coach of the Year
2017 A.I.I. Conference Coach of the Year
2017 A.I.I. Conference Champions
2024 Sun Conference Regular Season Champions
2024 Sun Conference Coach of the Year
6 NAIA National Tournament Appearance (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
6 20-plus win seasons (2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
Led FAMU to first SWAC Tournament win in school history
Led FAMU to most wins in a season since 2008