University of Minnesota Athletics
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Gophers Promote Crawford to Assistant Coach
8/16/2023 12:50:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – Head Coach John Anderson and the University of Minnesota Baseball team announced that former Gopher pitcher and Interim Director of Pitching Development, Alec Crawford, has been named a full-time assistant coach for the 2023-24 season.
"I am excited to join the current Gopher Baseball staff and help build a championship level team. I really like the direction we are heading as a program and look forward to contributing to a team full of some really talented players," said Crawford. "What Coach Anderson has built in his 42 years at the University of Minnesota has been nothing short of remarkable. The history and tradition of this program is something that I am excited to be a part of."
Crawford joined the staff in the fall of 2022 as the Interim Director of Pitching Development and finished his first season with the Gophers in 2023.
"The promotion of Alec Crawford to a full time assistant coach is well-earned and deserved as witnessed by his outstanding contributions in 2023 as the interim pitching coach," said Anderson.
In his first year, Crawford helped the 'U' pitching staff earn its best ERA since the 2019 season despite having a roster that ranked as the youngest in the Big Ten at just 19.9 years of age. He helped develop sophomore left-hander Tucker Novotny into a Third Team All-Big Ten selection, the Gophers first pitcher to earn all-league honors in the last four years.
Prior to Minnesota, Crawford played professional baseball for three seasons - two with the Colorado Rockies organization and one with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. After his playing days, he was an owner of Northstar Baseball Club, where he ran the well-known Complete Pitchers Program.
A 2014 MLB Draft pick of the Rockies, Crawford pitched for two years (2013-14) at the University of Minnesota. He was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection and named the Gophers' David Winfield Pitcher of the Year in his senior season. He tied for the team lead and ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 67 strikeouts. He tossed 97.1 innings and held a 3.79 ERA with a 4-2 record in 15 starts.
In his new role, Crawford will continue to partner with pitching coach Ty McDevitt as the Director of Pitching Development to build a staff that will perform consistently at a high level in the Big Ten Conference.
"I look forward to collaborating and working with Alec and this outstanding group of assistant coaches to build a successful player development system that will produce consistent, optimal success on the diamond and add to our proud history and tradition," said Anderson. "Alec is a proud alumni who wore the 'M.' He understands the WHY of the Golden Gopher Baseball Program and the importance of developing our current student-athletes into successful players on the field and preparing them for life after baseball."
Originally from Wilton, Iowa, Crawford currently resides in Corcoran, Minn., with his wife, Kim, and sons, Crew and Cooper.
"I am excited to join the current Gopher Baseball staff and help build a championship level team. I really like the direction we are heading as a program and look forward to contributing to a team full of some really talented players," said Crawford. "What Coach Anderson has built in his 42 years at the University of Minnesota has been nothing short of remarkable. The history and tradition of this program is something that I am excited to be a part of."
Crawford joined the staff in the fall of 2022 as the Interim Director of Pitching Development and finished his first season with the Gophers in 2023.
"The promotion of Alec Crawford to a full time assistant coach is well-earned and deserved as witnessed by his outstanding contributions in 2023 as the interim pitching coach," said Anderson.
In his first year, Crawford helped the 'U' pitching staff earn its best ERA since the 2019 season despite having a roster that ranked as the youngest in the Big Ten at just 19.9 years of age. He helped develop sophomore left-hander Tucker Novotny into a Third Team All-Big Ten selection, the Gophers first pitcher to earn all-league honors in the last four years.
Prior to Minnesota, Crawford played professional baseball for three seasons - two with the Colorado Rockies organization and one with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. After his playing days, he was an owner of Northstar Baseball Club, where he ran the well-known Complete Pitchers Program.
A 2014 MLB Draft pick of the Rockies, Crawford pitched for two years (2013-14) at the University of Minnesota. He was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection and named the Gophers' David Winfield Pitcher of the Year in his senior season. He tied for the team lead and ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 67 strikeouts. He tossed 97.1 innings and held a 3.79 ERA with a 4-2 record in 15 starts.
In his new role, Crawford will continue to partner with pitching coach Ty McDevitt as the Director of Pitching Development to build a staff that will perform consistently at a high level in the Big Ten Conference.
"I look forward to collaborating and working with Alec and this outstanding group of assistant coaches to build a successful player development system that will produce consistent, optimal success on the diamond and add to our proud history and tradition," said Anderson. "Alec is a proud alumni who wore the 'M.' He understands the WHY of the Golden Gopher Baseball Program and the importance of developing our current student-athletes into successful players on the field and preparing them for life after baseball."
Originally from Wilton, Iowa, Crawford currently resides in Corcoran, Minn., with his wife, Kim, and sons, Crew and Cooper.
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