University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball
Crawford, Alec
Alec Crawford
- Title:
- Pitching Coach
- Email:
- crawf340@umn.edu
Alec Crawford finished his second season with the Golden Gophers coaching staff as the director of pitching development in 2024. He joined the staff in the fall of 2022.
Crawford was promoted to head pitching coach in June of 2024, under head coach Ty McDevitt.
During his time with the 'U' pitching staff, four Gopher pitchers have been drafted to the MLB. George Klassen (RHP) was selected No. 193 in the sixth round of the 2023 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. During his time at the 'U' Klassen was sidelined due to an elbow injury his freshman year but returned with the help of the staff to a 100 mph fastball and success as a Gopher. In 2024 the Gopher staff had two LHP's get drafted to the MLB. Connor Wietgrefe was drafted 204th to the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a junior he was second in the Big Ten with a 2.77 ERA. Tucker Novotny was drafted No. 526 to the Oakland Athletics. Novotny was ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten in K/9 (10.7) his junior season (2024). Seth Clausen was drafted 467th overall to the Colorado Rockies in the 2025 MLB draft. During his junior season (2024), Clausen was ranked as the No. 30 draft prospect throughout the Big Ten by DI Baseball.
In his first year on staff, 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. As a team, Minnesota won 10 Big Ten games, its most since the 2019 season.
Minnesota left-handers Noah Rooney (3-0, 3.29 ERA) and Connor Wietgrefe (2-3, 3.83 ERA) took a big jump under Crawford. They combined for 84 strikeouts and just 33 earned runs allowed in 83.0 innings pitched to lead the bullpen. Wietgrefe also ranked in the top-10 of the Big Ten with his five saves and .209 opponent batting average. Both Wietgrefe (May 15, 2023) and right-handed starter George Klassen (March 20, 2023) won Big Ten Pitcher of the Week awards this season.
In his second season on staff, Crawford one again helped the Minnesota pitching staff to it's lowest ERA since 2019, which ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten. The Gophers also struck out 48 more batters in 2024 than 2023 despite pitching 43.1 less innings in 2024. As a staff, the Gophers led the league with the fewest home runs (35) and earned runs allowed (243) and ranked second in runs allowed (295), third in K/9 (9.5) and fourth in strikeouts (444). Crawford had two starting pitchers rank in the top 10 in the conference in K/9, including Novotny at No. 4 and Will Semb at No. 7.
In 2024, Crawford helped transition Wietgrefe from a reliever to one of the Big Ten's premier starting pitchers. Wietgrefe finished the season tied for first in the Big Ten in wins (8), second in ERA (2.77) and FIP (2.88), third in WAR (1.53) and sixth in strikeouts (74). He became the first Gopher since 2019 to be named First Team All-Big Ten and the first starting pitcher to earn the distinction since 2018.
Along with his coaching experience, Crawford was an owner of Northstar Baseball Club.
Following his playing career, Crawford joined the Benilde-St. Margaret’s staff as the high school’s pitching coach from 2020-2022. After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, he helped lead the Red Knights to a 41-11 record over the next two seasons, developing two all-state selections and one Minnesota Mr. Baseball Award winner. In 2021, the team made a section championship appearance, posting a team ERA of 2.75 for the season. In Crawford’s final year with Benilde-St. Margaret's, he led the pitching staff to a league-best 2.29 team ERA, a section championship, and a state championship.
Crawford played for two years in the Colorado Rockies organization. He also had a brief stint with the St. Paul Saints. In 2018, Alec signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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. He tossed 97.1 innings and held a 3.79 ERA with a 4-2 record in 15 starts.
As a junior, he pitched in a total of 10 games, including nine starts, going 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA, which ranked third on the team. He pitched a total of 51.1 innings (fourth on the team). He was 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 39.2 Big Ten innings and held opponents to a 2.57 ERA in his last six start.
Prior to his time at Minnesota, Crawford played for two years at Des Moines Area Community College, where was able to earn a position in the starting rotation as a freshman and never looked back. He holds pitching records in a variety of statistical categories including lowest career ERA, most career strikeouts, most career innings pitched and most career wins. His postseason honors at DMACC included the 2012 ICCAC Pitcher of the Year and 2012 ICCAC Player of the Year.
For his performance as a sophomore, he was a 2012 First Team All American selection. He lead his teams to two NJCAA World Series berths, earning All-Tournament Team honors in 2011 and 2012. He set the NJCAA World Series Record for most strikeouts in a game with 15 in 2011.
Originally from Wilton, Iowa, Crawford played baseball, basketball, football and golf at Wilton High School, where he was all-state and all-elite in baseball, and second team all-state in basketball. He's the son of Ken and Dawn Crawford and also has a brother, Cole.
He currently resides in Corcoran, Minn., with his wife, Kim, and sons, Crew and Cooper.
Crawford was promoted to head pitching coach in June of 2024, under head coach Ty McDevitt.
During his time with the 'U' pitching staff, four Gopher pitchers have been drafted to the MLB. George Klassen (RHP) was selected No. 193 in the sixth round of the 2023 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. During his time at the 'U' Klassen was sidelined due to an elbow injury his freshman year but returned with the help of the staff to a 100 mph fastball and success as a Gopher. In 2024 the Gopher staff had two LHP's get drafted to the MLB. Connor Wietgrefe was drafted 204th to the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a junior he was second in the Big Ten with a 2.77 ERA. Tucker Novotny was drafted No. 526 to the Oakland Athletics. Novotny was ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten in K/9 (10.7) his junior season (2024). Seth Clausen was drafted 467th overall to the Colorado Rockies in the 2025 MLB draft. During his junior season (2024), Clausen was ranked as the No. 30 draft prospect throughout the Big Ten by DI Baseball.
In his first year on staff, 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. As a team, Minnesota won 10 Big Ten games, its most since the 2019 season.
Minnesota left-handers Noah Rooney (3-0, 3.29 ERA) and Connor Wietgrefe (2-3, 3.83 ERA) took a big jump under Crawford. They combined for 84 strikeouts and just 33 earned runs allowed in 83.0 innings pitched to lead the bullpen. Wietgrefe also ranked in the top-10 of the Big Ten with his five saves and .209 opponent batting average. Both Wietgrefe (May 15, 2023) and right-handed starter George Klassen (March 20, 2023) won Big Ten Pitcher of the Week awards this season.
In his second season on staff, Crawford one again helped the Minnesota pitching staff to it's lowest ERA since 2019, which ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten. The Gophers also struck out 48 more batters in 2024 than 2023 despite pitching 43.1 less innings in 2024. As a staff, the Gophers led the league with the fewest home runs (35) and earned runs allowed (243) and ranked second in runs allowed (295), third in K/9 (9.5) and fourth in strikeouts (444). Crawford had two starting pitchers rank in the top 10 in the conference in K/9, including Novotny at No. 4 and Will Semb at No. 7.
In 2024, Crawford helped transition Wietgrefe from a reliever to one of the Big Ten's premier starting pitchers. Wietgrefe finished the season tied for first in the Big Ten in wins (8), second in ERA (2.77) and FIP (2.88), third in WAR (1.53) and sixth in strikeouts (74). He became the first Gopher since 2019 to be named First Team All-Big Ten and the first starting pitcher to earn the distinction since 2018.
Along with his coaching experience, Crawford was an owner of Northstar Baseball Club.
Following his playing career, Crawford joined the Benilde-St. Margaret’s staff as the high school’s pitching coach from 2020-2022. After the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID, he helped lead the Red Knights to a 41-11 record over the next two seasons, developing two all-state selections and one Minnesota Mr. Baseball Award winner. In 2021, the team made a section championship appearance, posting a team ERA of 2.75 for the season. In Crawford’s final year with Benilde-St. Margaret's, he led the pitching staff to a league-best 2.29 team ERA, a section championship, and a state championship.
Crawford played for two years in the Colorado Rockies organization. He also had a brief stint with the St. Paul Saints. In 2018, Alec signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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. He tossed 97.1 innings and held a 3.79 ERA with a 4-2 record in 15 starts.
As a junior, he pitched in a total of 10 games, including nine starts, going 4-2 with a 2.28 ERA, which ranked third on the team. He pitched a total of 51.1 innings (fourth on the team). He was 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 39.2 Big Ten innings and held opponents to a 2.57 ERA in his last six start.
Prior to his time at Minnesota, Crawford played for two years at Des Moines Area Community College, where was able to earn a position in the starting rotation as a freshman and never looked back. He holds pitching records in a variety of statistical categories including lowest career ERA, most career strikeouts, most career innings pitched and most career wins. His postseason honors at DMACC included the 2012 ICCAC Pitcher of the Year and 2012 ICCAC Player of the Year.
For his performance as a sophomore, he was a 2012 First Team All American selection. He lead his teams to two NJCAA World Series berths, earning All-Tournament Team honors in 2011 and 2012. He set the NJCAA World Series Record for most strikeouts in a game with 15 in 2011.
Originally from Wilton, Iowa, Crawford played baseball, basketball, football and golf at Wilton High School, where he was all-state and all-elite in baseball, and second team all-state in basketball. He's the son of Ken and Dawn Crawford and also has a brother, Cole.
He currently resides in Corcoran, Minn., with his wife, Kim, and sons, Crew and Cooper.
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