Jason Crafton

Jason Crafton

Crafton in 2023
Current position
Title	General Manager
Team	Penn State
Conference	Big 10
Biographical details
Born	(1982-01-30) January 30, 1982 (age 43) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1999–2003	Nyack
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2003–2005	Villanova (video coordinator)
2005–2010	Navy (assistant)
2010–2012	Navy (associate HC)
2012–2018	Nyack
2018–2019	Delaware Blue Coats (assistant)
2019–2024	Maryland Eastern Shore
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2025-Present	Penn State (General Manager)
2024-2025	Columbia (Chief Program Strategist)
Head coaching record
Overall	90–184 (.328)
Tournaments	0–1 (TBC)

Jason Crafton (born January 30, 1982) is an American college basketball coach who is currently serving as General Manager for women's basketball at Penn State. ^[1] He was previously the head coach for the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball team. ^[2]

Playing career

Crafton played college basketball at Nyack College, where he was named team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was also a member of the schools only CACC Championship Team in the 1999–2000 season. ^[2]

Coaching career

After graduation, Crafton joined Jay Wright's staff at Villanova as a video coordinator for two seasons until 2005, when he accepted an assistant coaching position at Navy where he'd serve under fellow former Villanova staffer Billy Lange as well as a season under Ed DeChellis. ^[3] Crafton would return to Nyack to become the school's head men's basketball coach where from 2012 to 2018 before accepting an assistant coaching position with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. ^{[4] [5]}

On April 24, 2019, Crafton was named the head coach at Maryland Eastern Shore. ^{[2] [6]}

The 2022–23 season was a historic one in many ways for Hawk Basketball. Crafton's squad finished 18–13, leading to the program's best win percentage (.581) in 50 years and the most wins in a season of Crafton's coaching career. The team broke last season's school records in steals (345) and steals-per-game (11.1). Their per-game clip ranked #1 in the nation this season, while the team also ranked #1 nationally in turnovers forced per contest (19.0). Crafton guided the Hawks to a 10–3 record at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the best home mark for the program since the 1973–74 season. The team also logged significant non-conference wins at Temple on December 20 and Columbia on December 28. Crafton was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Coach of the Year award, recognizing the top Division I minority coach annually. ^[7]

On December 9, 2024, Crafton was formerly named as Chief Program Strategist for Men's Basketball at Columbia University. ^[8] He helped the Lions achieve its best non-conference start in 50 years with an 11–2 record.

On June 17, 2025, Crafton became the first-ever general manager for Penn State Lady Lions Basketball Team. He is responsible for roster building and maintenance, generating NIL strategies and overall program development on and off the court. ^[1]

Head coaching record

NCAA DII

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Nyack (CACC)(2012–2018)
2012–13	Nyack	5–20	3–15	7th (North)
2013–14	Nyack	10–16	8–11	5th (North)
2014–15	Nyack	7–19	6–13	6th (North)
2015–16	Nyack	11–15	8–11	5th (North)
2016–17	Nyack	7–19	3–16	7th (North)
2017–18	Nyack	7–19	7–12	5th (North)
Nyack:		47–108 (.303)	35–78 (.310)
Total:		47–108 (.303)
National champion        Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

NCAA DI

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Maryland Eastern Shore (MEAC)(2019–2024)
2019–20	Maryland Eastern Shore	5–27	4–12	T–9th
2020–21	Maryland Eastern Shore	Season Canceled (Covid)	N/A	N/A	N/A
2021–22	Maryland Eastern Shore	11–16	6–8	T–6th	TBC First Round
2022–23	Maryland Eastern Shore	18–13	9–5	T–3rd
2023–24	Maryland Eastern Shore	9–20	4–10	7th
Maryland Eastern Shore:		43–76 (.361)	23–35 (.397)
Total:		43–76 (.361)
National champion        Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

References

1. https://gopsusports.com/news/2025/06/17/kieger-adds-jason-crafton-as-general-manager-and-assistant-coach
2. "Hawks hire Jason Crafton as new steward of basketball program". University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics.
3. "Matt Sladky and Jason Crafton Join Navy Men's Basketball Staff". Naval Academy Athletics.
4. "Blue Coats Announce Basketball Operations Staff". Delaware Blue Coats. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
5. "Warrior Men's Basketball Head Coach Accepts NBA G-League Coaching Position". Nyack. September 14, 2018. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
6. "Philadelphia 76ers G-League assistant hired as next UMES men's basketball coach". Delmarva Daily Times.
7. https://easternshorehawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jason-crafton/1348 ^{[ bare URL ]}
8. "Jason Crafton Joins Men's Basketball Staff as Chief Program Strategist". Columbia University Athletics. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.