Florida A&M Board of Trustees Approves One-Year Contract for New Men’s Basketball Coach Patrick Crarey II

The pressure is on for new Florida A&M men’s basketball coach Patrick Crarey II as he officially has one season to prove himself and turn the program around. The Board of Trustees approved a one-year contract for Crarey, despite him initially agreeing to a three-year deal when hired in May.

The contract includes a $20,000 signing bonus and incentives for winning SWAC Coach of the Year and leading the Rattlers to either the NCAA tournament or the NIT. Florida A&M’s men’s basketball program has struggled, with no winning season since their MEAC championship in 2007.

Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes expressed confidence in Crarey’s abilities, citing his success against other standout HBCU coaches. Crarey has a strong coaching background, with 224 wins, six NAIA national tournament appearances, and a USCAA national title.

Associated Press coach of the year Shaka Smart of Marquette endorsed Crarey, calling him a “proven winner” who builds strong relationships with players and holds them to a championship standard. Despite this support, Crarey’s credentials were questioned in a recent board of trustees meeting.

With the pressure mounting, Crarey will need to hit the ground running and show results quickly to secure a longer-term contract. The upcoming season will be crucial for him to prove that he is the right coach to lead Florida A&M’s men’s basketball program back to success.