Columbia men’s basketball head coach Jim Engles has announced the hiring of Jason Crafton as the Chief Program Strategist.
Crafton’s position on the Columbia coaching staff works closely with Engles and the rest of the coaches in providing innovative ideas to enhance the growth of the program both on and off the court.
“Coach Crafton is well respected and has achieved a ton of success in his career,” Engles said. “He’s already playing a crucial role in revamping our defense this season with his dynamic ideas, concepts and strategies. His involvement this season and the impact he will make cannot be overstated. We are excited to have him on board.”
Crafton served as the head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore from 2019 to 2024. Under Crafton, the 2022-23 squad finished 18-13, leading to the program’s best winning percentage (.581) in 50 years and the most wins in a season of Crafton’s coaching career. The team set the school records in steals (345) and steals-per-game (11.1). Crafton guided the Hawks to a 10-3 record at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the best home mark for the program since the 1973-74 season.
“I’ve known Coach Engles for over 15 years and I have the utmost respect for the program he’s built,” Crafton said. “I’m also excited to be back home in New York to help the Lions pursue an Ivy League Championship. Columbia is a special place.”
Crafton guided the Hawks to one of the biggest wins in program history, a 86-78 road victory over American Athletic Conference opponent Temple University. Crafton’s Hawks also logged significant non-conference wins over Marist, Lehigh and Columbia that season. The Hawks finished the first half of MEAC play at 6-1, the best Division I record to open league play in 50 years. Under Crafton, forward Nathaniel Pollard Jr. was named to the All-MEAC Second Team and guard Zion Styles received All-MEAC Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Pollard was also named to the 2023 HBCU All-Star Game in Houston, Texas. Crafton was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Coach of the Year award, recognizing the top Division I minority coach annually.
Under Crafton, Maryland Eastern Shore recorded double-digit victories in the 2021-22 season while securing its first postseason appearance since the 2014 season. Crafton led the Hawks to an epic double-overtime victory on the road over Atlantic 10 opponent Fordham University. The 2021-22 Hawks boasted one of the top defenses in the country, ranking fifth in the nation in steals-per-game and 10th in turnovers forced while boasting the second-best scoring defense in the MEAC. Guard Da’Shawn Phillip earned All-MEAC Third Team, forward Nate Pollard Jr. was named to the All-Defensive Team and guard Chace Davis was a member of the All-Rookie squad, marking the first time the Hawks had three postseason award winners in several seasons.
During the 2019-20 season, which was Crafton’s first with the Hawks, the team set a team school record for blocks with 102. The squad also finished 4th in the MEAC in scoring defense as they allowed less than 69 points per game in conference play. After the season, The Shore had one all-conference player as Da’Shawn Phillip was named to the All-Rookie team after his freshman campaign.
The 20 plus-year coaching veteran spent the 2018-19 season in the NBA ranks as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers’ G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats. Prior to that, he was the head coach at his alma mater, Nyack College from 2012-18. He spent the beginning of his career as an assistant at the United States Naval Academy and Villanova.
In 2018, Crafton worked with the Blue Coats to help instill similar philosophies as the parent club, the 76ers, while also maintaining a developmental mindset. The energetic coach played an integral role and took every opportunity to contribute in all phases of the program as well as use the experience to broaden his coaching knowledge, at different times throughout the season serving as Offensive and Defensive Coordinator as well as Director of Player Development. He assisted with the on-court development of multiple players who became contributors to the 76ers including Shake Milton and Haywood Highsmith.
In the Spring of 2012, Crafton inherited a major rebuilding project, taking over a Warrior program which produced a 1-26 record the year prior to his arrival and was ranked 276 out of 277 NCAA Division II programs. In his second season, he propelled the Warriors to one of the best turnarounds in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).
By the 2015-16 season the Warriors 11-15 record marked as the program’s best since 2009. The Warriors also achieved 22 conference wins between 2013-2016, its best 3-year span in several years.
Throughout his tenure, the Warriors made a name for themselves on the defensive end. In 2016, Nyack ranked 11th in the nation in turnovers forced per game. In that same year, the Warriors were rated the 31st Most Efficient Man-to-Man Defensive Team in the country by Synergy Sports Technology. The 2015 squad led the league in steals per game while the 2018 team finished with a zone defense that was rated in the top 10 percent nationally by Synergy.
Prior to Nyack, Crafton was Associate head coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for two seasons under then head coach Billy Lange. Before that, he was an assistant coach for the Midshipmen from 2005 to 2010 also under Lange who is now the St. Joseph’s University head coach.
He began his college coaching career as video coordinator for two seasons at Villanova under Hall of Fame Coach Jay Wright (2003-05). While working at Villanova, he helped mentor two future NBA guards: NBA Champion Kyle Lowry and Randy Foye. The Wildcats made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2005.
While at Navy, Crafton was instrumental in developing Greg Sprink (2008 Patriot League Player of the Year) and J.J. Avila (2011 Patriot League Rookie of the Year). At Nyack, he spearheaded the development of Nick Moore and Chris Hampton. Both players earned CACC All-Conference accolades and earned professional contracts overseas after graduating in 2016.
Crafton was a member of the Nyack College basketball team from 1999-2003 and served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons. He was a member of Nyack’s 2000 CACC Conference Championship Team that played in the National Tournament. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications in 2003.