Patrick Crarey will be back in his old stomping grounds on Monday night.
Florida A&M welcomes Grambling State for a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup that doubles as a personal reunion for Tigers head coach Patrick Crarey. The game marks the first time Crarey will face his former team since parting ways with the Rattlers after last season.
Crarey spent one season at Florida A&M, where he guided the Rattlers to their best run of basketball since the program was in the MEAC.
FAMU went 13-16 overall and 10-8 in the SWAC under Crarey, who was on a one-year deal despite a successful stint at Division II St. Thomas University, where he was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year in 2024.
He inked a one-year, $150,000 contract at the recommendation of FAMU’s Board of Trustees before the start of the 2024-25 season. FAMU’s Board of Trustees later reportedly rejected an offer for a two-year extension.
Florida A&M eventually hired ex-NBA player and Florida high school coach Charlie Ward, who has the Rattlers at 4-9 overall and 1-1 in SWAC play.
During his introductory press conference when he was hired at Grambling, Crarey mentioned that he welcomed actually being wanted.
“This move was about winning within an organization that believed in my capabilities from day one,” he said back in April. “Today starts our new journey together. What you believe about yourself, others will believe about you, too.”
Grambling State (8-8 overall) is one of two teams in the SWAC with a record of at least .500. The Tigers are looking to bounce back after a 75-64 loss to Bethune-Cookman.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center, where fans will likely see more than just a typical early-January SWAC game — they’ll witness a reunion between coach and program, now on the opposite side of the court.
