Chuck Crawford - Women's Volleyball Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Chuck Crawford

Title:
Head Volleyball Coach
Email:
chuck.crawford@mtsu.edu
Phone:
898-2230

Chuck Crawford
Head Coach, 8th year

College: Miami (OH)
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Education
Year as Head Coach: 8th
Year as Middle Tennessee Head Coach: 8th

Chuck Crawford enters his eighth season at the Blue Raider volleyball program's helm for the 2024 season. Crawford, who has extensive experience in premiere collegiate volleyball, is the 11th head coach in program history. He is also currently serving on the AVCA All-American Committee for the South Region.

In the 2023 season, Coach Crawford guided the Blue Raiders to their first 20-win season since 2011 and their second appearance in the NIVC in program history. The 20 wins puts this year's team fourth in total wins in the 25-point era and fourth in winning percentage (.667). The team recorded 11 Conference USA wins which is the most conference wins since MTSU joined CUSA in 2013. Offensively, the Blue Raiders posted their best hitting percentage (.303) in program history. MTSU earned their first ranked win since 2010 by defeating No. 25 Auburn on the road. Senior Taylor Eisert was recognized as Conference USA Setter of the Year. Eisert ranked up numerous awards throughout the season including six CUSA Setter of the Week, a TSWA Volleyball Athlete of the Week and a CUSA All-Academic Team honor. Eisert broke the program record for career assists in the 25-point era and reached 3000 career assists. Adri Rhoda was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week three times. Five Blue Raiders were named to the All-Conference teams. Eisert, Kayla Henley and Rhoda were tabbed to the First Team as Laure Jansen and Kaylee Oscarson were tabbed to the Second Team.

In the 2022 season, Coach Crawford led the Blue Raiders to their first winning season since 2013 and their fourth consecutive appearance in the Conference USA Tournament. Offensively, the Blue Raiders put on one of the program’s best seasons ever. At the end of the season, MTSU was ranked 12^th in the country with a team mark of 1.90 aces per set which ranks first for the program in the 25-point era. The team’s 203 total aces also ranks first in the new scoring era, 32 aces ahead of the next best season. On the block the Blue Raiders were no slouches, recording a total of 68 solo blocks, just one away from tying the 25-point era team record. Senior Kayla Henley was recognized with Second Team All-Conference USA honors after becoming one of the best right-side hitters in the country. Freshman Adri Rhoda racked up numerous honors throughout the season including six C-USA Freshman of the Week honors, Second Team All-Conference USA, and C-USA All-Freshman Team honors. Rhoda erased and tied many of the program’s 25-point era records, including the single-season ace record (67), single-match ace record (9), single-match solo block record (3), and more. Rhoda ended the season ranked fourth in the nation for total aces and was sixth for aces per set, both ranks were first among all freshman in the nation and first among all players in Conference USA. Junior Taylor Eisert had her best season yet, earning two C-USA Setter of the Week honors and one TSWA Volleyball Player of the Week honor to go along with her C-USA All-Academic nod. Eisert set the program’s 25-pt era record for team hitting percentage at .532 and the highest single-match team hitting percentage of C-USA teams this season in a sweep over Miami (OH). Graduate student Kaylee Oscarson received the C-USA Fall Spirit of Service honor for her contributions to community service while excelling academically and athletically. In total, the Blue Raiders earned nine all-tournament honors throughout the preseason on their way to the second-best preseason record (11-3) in the program’s 46-year history.

During a year that was riddled with Covid-19 and injuries, Coach Crawford sent the Blue Raiders to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship tournament for the first time in program history during the 2021 season. The Blue Raiders made it to the semifinals in Conference USA for the first time ever after sweeping North Texas in the opening round of the C-USA Tournament. The team took advantage of playing on their home court in 2021, ending the season with a .833 home win percentage, the highest mark the Blue Raiders have had since 2009. Crawford oversaw one of his best statistical seasons from a team standpoint, averaging 11.2 assists/set, 1.6 service aces/set, and 13.9 digs/set - each ranked second during his first five seasons with the Blue Raiders. C-USA Libero of the Year, Marley Banton, would take home the first superlative for the Blue Raiders since 2010 to go along with her All-Conference Second Team selection. Banton also took home Defensive Player of the Week (9/27), being the first since 2015. Samira Lawson Body was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team, All-Conference Second Team, and is the first Blue Raider to be named CoSIDA All-District First Team since 2007. Taylor Eisert became the fastest Blue Raider to reach to 1,000-career assist milestone during the 25-point rally scoring era, doing so in 27 matches.

Under Crawford in the 2020-21 season, the Blue Raiders clinched a berth in the C-USA Tournament for the second straight season. It is the first time since 2013 that the Blue Raiders have clinched a spot in a conference tournament in consecutive seasons. The Blue Raiders would significantly improve the stat category in C-USA play, finishing fourth in hitting percentage, eighth in opponent hitting percentage, and sixth in kills. The team would also rank 156 in RPI, which is a team-high in the last seven years. Amelia Van Der Werff was voted Freshman of the Week, which is the first time a Middle Tennessee player was voted Freshman of the Week for Conference-USA. Teammate Taylor Eisert was later named C-USA Freshman of the Week. Under Crawford's tutelage, Amelia Van Der Werff was selected to the C-USA Volleyball All-Freshman team. She is the third player in program history to be named to the C-USA All-Freshman team. Also, Samira Lawson Body was named to the C-USA All-Academic team. Her selection marks the third consecutive year a Middle Tennessee player has received the honor. Crawford would guide freshman Taylor Eisert to earning the second-highest assist total (54) in a four-set match in conference play. The team would notch another program high 3.78 Team GPA (ranking in the top 20 percent of Division I women's programs), leading to their fourth consecutive AVCA team academic award. Also under Crawford's tutelage, Amalie Jorgensen was named to the Danish Senior National Team. Jorgensen plays pro volleyball in Belgium. Dora Peonia currently plays in the Italian A2 League.

In the 2019 season, the Blue Raiders increased their overall win total by six and conference record by four. The team finished the season eighth in Conference USA, which is the highest finish under Crawford's helm. Crawford also led the team to its first Conference USA Tournament appearance since 2013. The Blue Raiders continued to grow as the team recorded the highest number of kills (1,425), digs (1,669), and assists (1,334) the program has seen in the past five seasons. The team finished in the season 10th in C-USA in digs. Crawford aided in mentoring seniors Taylor Hammill and Brienna Tankesley to their second Conference USA All-Academic Team selection. Dora Peonia earned a spot on the C-USA All-Conference Second Team, making her the fifth player in Blue Raider history to be named. Crawford guided Kayla Henley to the program's first Conference USA All-Freshman Team honor. Taylor Hammill received the Conference-USA Spirit of Service Award. The team also earned a program-high team GPA of 3.76.

In the 2018 season, Crawford continued to help the Blue Raider program grow, coaching the team to the highest number of kills (1,180), digs (1,359), and assists (1,098) the program has seen in the past four seasons. Similarly, under Crawford's helm, Bailey Mason earned the program's first Conference USA All-Conference second team nomination, marking the first time a Blue Raider has earned a C-USA conference postseason honor in three seasons. Likewise, Crawford aided in mentoring Brienna Tankesley to achieve her first C-USA All-Academic team nomination, marking the second player to receive this honor under his helm. The team's academic focus greatly improved under Crawford's direction as the team recorded a 3.76 team GPA in the spring, the highest GPA of the program's history. Likewise, 10 players were named to C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, and a team-high six players earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal. Vonnie Covington received the SAEC Achievement Award.

During his first season as head coach, Crawford was determined to change the culture and the direction of the program throughout the first season. In the 1st semester of being hired, the team earned a program-high team GPA of 3.689. Crawford significantly improved the team's serving, helping the squad achieve the most service aces (171) and service aces per set (1.64) in the Blue Raider 25-point era. The team would finish the season second in C-USA in aces. The most improved player from the service line was Dora Peonia, who inked 44 aces to top the program charts in total service aces in a single season since 2007. Likewise, the team earned the first AVCA Academic Team Award in program history under Crawford's helm. Also, Taylor Hammill earned her first C-USA All-Academic team nomination, marking the first player to receive this honor under Crawford's helm. The team also tied a team-high 11 players named C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, and four players earned C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal. Bailey Mason was named one of 14 Conference USA student-athletes to receive the Fall Spirit of Service Award this year.

Crawford came to Murfreesboro from Auburn, where he served as an assistant for three seasons. While on The Plains, Crawford's responsibilities included defensive game planning and scouting and assisting with recruiting and development. Crawford aided in picking the 2018 Auburn recruiting class, ranked the seventh-best incoming group in the nation, the best-rated recruiting class in Auburn history. Likewise, Crawford trained and recruited Auburn's Mica Allison, who won the NORCECA Continental Championship gold medal. Her U.S. Junior National Team and Jessie Earle, who was the first Tiger in program history, earned all-American honors. With the Tigers, Crawford also helped lead wins against No. 10 Florida and No. 21 Arkansas.

Crawford coached an All-SEC selection and a pair of AVCA All-South Region honorable mentions at Auburn in 2015. Off the court, Crawford also mentored an SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2014 and 2015, and eight members of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Before Auburn, Crawford spent a season at Georgia Tech coaching the middle blockers while also serving as recruiting coordinator and director of camps. While with the Yellow Jackets, Crawford coached middle blocker Chanell Clark-Bibbs, who earned a spot on the 2013 USA Junior National Team and was named a two-time Academic All-ACC selection.

Crawford went to Georgia Tech from his alma mater Miami (Ohio), where he served as an assistant for two years. With the RedHawks, he helped train three first-team All-MAC honorees and a CoSIDA Academic All-American. Crawford worked primarily with the hitters and oversaw the program's recruiting, grabbing a 'High Honorable Mention' by Prep Volleyball for his 2013 recruiting class. He also worked closely with Olivia Rusek, who earned a spot on the USA Collegiate National Team. Crawford's recruits have helped Miami have four winning seasons and earn two conference championships in the last four seasons.

Before joining the RedHawks, Crawford spent a year and a half as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Jacksonville University. At JU, Crawford coordinated all recruiting and team training, scouting, fundraising, and practice planning. He helped middle blocker Alyssa Robertson earn Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team honors. Outside hitter Aidan Yager earned a spot on the All-Atlantic Sun first team and recruited the 2012 Atlantic Sun Freshman Player of the Year, Sammie Strausbaugh. Likewise, he coached and mentored Taylor Nyquist, who played in the National Volleyball League after her JU career.

He also spent a year as a volunteer assistant at Georgia Tech in 2009, helping the Yellow Jackets to an NCAA Tournament bid after a five-year postseason drought.

Crawford is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association, having served on their national Assistant Coaches Committee and United States Volleyball and the Southern Region Volleyball Association.

A native of Middletown, Ohio, he taught health, physical education, and special education in Fulton and Forsyth counties (Ga.) for nearly 10 years. He coached at Centennial High School (2001-04) and North Forsyth High School (2006-09). In addition to volleyball, Crawford coached baseball at Centennial, helping lead the team to the 2004 state championship title. Crawford also assisted as a coach at Milton High School and helped coach and mentor Dexter Fowler, who was drafted in the 14th round by the Colorado Rockies and went on to continue his career with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and with the St. Louis Cardinals. Likewise, at Centennial High School, Crawford coached Maria Taylor in volleyball, who is now an ESPN anchor.

Crawford earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education from Miami University in 2001. He was a four-year member of the RedHawks club volleyball team and also played one year on the Redhawks baseball team.

Crawford is married and has five children. Crawford was in the Weather Channel TV series Epic Conditions, climbing the Nose of El Cap (3,300 feet) in Yosemite. He has also summited 14,400-foot Mount Rainer in Washington state and spent three years riding bulls in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA).