Episode 180: Patrick Crarey, Head Coach, Grambling State University

On this episode of the Rising Coaches Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Patrick Crarey, the head men’s basketball coach at Grambling State University. Crarey was hired in 2024 after a successful 11-year tenure as head coach and athletic director at St. Thomas University in Florida. At St. Thomas, he led the program to multiple national tournament appearances and was known for his ability to build and sustain success at the NAIA level. Before that, he served as an assistant at his alma mater, Marymount University, and spent time coaching at the high school and grassroots levels. Crarey is respected for his leadership, culture-building, and adaptability across all levels of basketball. At Grambling, he’s focused on taking the program to new heights within the SWAC. In this episode we talk about what he looks for when hiring an assistant from an athletic director and head coach’s standpoint, things to consider when looking to take that next coaching position at a new school and how to alter your offense and defense around a roster when stepping into a new program