December 1, 2015
SOCCER (M): MARSHALL, Texas (11/30/15) - Bringing a resume of servant leadership and development of men of character, the East Texas Baptist University athletic department has hired Chris Crawford as their new head men's soccer coach. Crawford comes to ETBU after serving as the head coach at Dallas Baptist University for three years re-starting the men's soccer program in 2012.
ETBU Athletic Director Kent Reeves shared, "We are excited to have Chris Crawford join our staff at East Texas Baptist University to lead our men's soccer program. Chris possesses a passion for the game and a passion for serving the Lord which will be infectious to his players."
Crawford brings a strong resume of team building from DBU where he re-started the men's soccer program in 2012. He served as the head coach for three years before stepping aside this season to become the Director of Administrative Affairs for DBU following the departure of Dr. Blair Blackburn to ETBU.
In his time as the head coach, he developed his players for life through competition and service. In 2014 he organized and took his team on a mission trip to Curitiba, Brazil, during the FIFA World Cup where they helped the area recover from a massive rain storm that displaced 13,000 people. His team also had the chance to play a semi-pro team for another life experience.
"Coach Crawford is a dynamic leader, devoted to Christ-centered athletics. Chris desires to build strong men of faith and leadership. He understands that ETBU is in the "iron-sharpening" business as the Lord has called us to invest our lives into equipping these student athletes through a commitment to excellence and an enriching discipleship encounter with Christ," says ETBU president Dr. Blair Blackburn.
Along with missions, Crawford worked locally with organizations to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach soccer skills. His team performed monthly soccer clinics at Mercy Street West Dallas and the Grand Prairie YMCA.
"Under Coach Crawford, ETBU Tiger Soccer athletes will be challenged to excel on the field and in life," added Blackburn.
Bringing leadership skills from the NCAA Division II level, Crawford was on the South Central Region rankings committee for the NSCAA and a member of the NCAA Division II regional advisory committee for two years. He has a NSCAA national and advanced national diploma and worked as a coach at both the FCA Dallas and Exact Camp soccer clinics.
In three years of leading DBU, a non-scholarship NCAA Division II program, his best season came in 2013 with a 4-4-1 finish for a fourth place tie in the Heartland Conference. Leaving the program after the 2014 season, he gave a solid foundation for new coach Chip Dutchik to continue to build on. This year, DBU just won the NCCAA (National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association) regional championship and earns an automatic berth to the national championship tournament to be played the first week of December.
Crawford played collegiately at DBU from 1999-2001 and received a bachelor's degree in Christian Studies. He also has received two master degrees in Kinesiology and Higher Education. He has also held positions at DBU including resident director, director of intramural sports, fitness center director, athletic training center director, and director of apartment life.
Crawford will take over as the head coach of the ETBU men's soccer program starting in the first week of December.