New Florida A&M men’s basketball coach Patrick Crarey II officially will have one season to prove that he can do what hasn’t been done in nearly two decades.
On Thursday afternoon, FAMU’s Board of Trustees approved a one-year contract for Crarey, though he previously agreed to a three-year deal when hired in May.
The difference between the board’s recommendation and the contract presented at Thursday’s meeting was a few extra perks, including a $20,000 signing bonus and incentives to kick in should Crarey win SWAC Coach of the Year and lead the Rattlers to either the NCAA tournament or the NIT.
Florida A&M’s men’s basketball program has not had a winning season since their run to the MEAC championship in 2007.
Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes spoke of Crarey’s success against other standout HBCU coaches, such as wins against two-time MEAC champion Howard and Kenny Blakeney and Grambling’s Donte’ Jackson, who just led the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament win this past March.
“I believe that Coach Crarey is best suited for this role, based on where we find ourselves in the current landscape of college basketball,” Sykes said. “I am grateful that in Coach Crarey, we have hired a coach who is excited to be here and take on the challenge of leading this program.”
Crarey previously coached at St. Thomas (Florida) and Washington Adventist, winning 224 games, including six NAIA national tournament appearances and a United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national title in 2014. Crarey received a boost this week when Associated Press coach of the year Shaka Smart of Marquette advocated for his hiring.
“Patrick Crarey is a proven winner,” Smart stated. “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’s credentials were questioned in a recent FAMU board of trustees meeting. The discussion included everything from the level of basketball he coached to his place on the Rattlers’ search list.
