After Florida A&M’s Board of Trustees voiced their skepticism following the hiring of Patrick Crarey II as their men’s basketball coach, a well-known college basketball coach has spoken up on his behalf.
Former AP men’s basketball Coach of the Year and current Marquette coach Shaka Smart backed Crarey, saying Florida A&M made a “phenomenal hire.”
“Patrick Crarey is a proven winner,” said Smart. “He’s a tireless worker who builds tremendous relationships with his players, gets them better on and off the court, and holds them to a championship standard. This is a phenomenal hire by FAMU.”
Crarey has been a head coach at the college level since 2010, having spent 11 seasons at Washington Adventist and the last three seasons with St. Thomas (FL).
One of the best coaches in the nation on Coach Crarey after the announcing of his hire in April.
Coach Smart knows the Rattlers got a good one in @CoachCrarey!#FAMU | #FAMUly | #Rattlers | #FangsUp 🐍 pic.twitter.com/EyKbc0BC0Z
— Florida A&M Men’s Basketball 🏀 (@FAMU_MBB) August 5, 2024
He finished his time at Washington Adventist as the team’s all-time winningest coach, with a 163-129 overall record. This includes leading the team to a 2014 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national title.
Meanwhile, at St. Thomas, he led the team to 20-win seasons and NAIA National tournament berths in each of the last two years.
Upon the announcement of Crarey’s hire to Florida A&M, it was reported that the Board of Trustees did not see him as a top candidate for the position.
It was also reported that FAMU’s Trustees recommended he be given a short-term contract opposing his original offer of $150,000 over three years.
This type of approach by FAMU sports info is a losing proposition .