Long-time NAIA coach Patrick Crarey II has been hired as the new head coach at Florida A&M, the school announced on Wednesday. Crarey went 61-27 over the last three seasons at St. Thomas (Miami Gardens, FL), and before that spent ten seasons as head coach at Washington Adventist in Maryland.
“I’m delighted to welcome Coach Crarey and his family as the newest members of the FAMUly!” said AD Tiffani-Dawn Sykes. “I must thank the dedicated members of the search committee for their diligent efforts in identifying Patrick amidst a pool of interested and talented candidates. During this process, I received countless emails and messages from people who shared that they wanted a winner, and Patrick’s reputation as a winner precedes him. I look forward to his fresh perspective and the leadership he’ll bring as we usher in a new era for FAMU Men’s Basketball.”
Crarey has been to five NAIA National Tournaments, including each of the last two years with St. Thomas. He is the winner of three NAIA Conference COY awards and brings with him to FAMU an overall head coaching record of 224-156.
“Rattler Nation, I am humbled and elated to join the FAMUly as the new head coach of the men’s basketball team at the #1 public HBCU, Florida A&M University,” said Crarey. “I am extremely thankful to President Robinson and AD Sykes for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this program. We look forward to building strong relationships with the student body, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Tallahassee community. Our program is poised to become a perennial contender in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Crarey, 40, replaces Robert McCullum, who was let go after seven seasons with an overall record of 67-133. The Rattler program has been to three NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2007, and has never appeared in the NIT or any other D-I postseason tournament.
credit to Florida A&M Athletics for the image
