Story by
FAMU trustees OK one-year contract for new men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II
- Story by
- FAMU trustees OK one-year contract for new men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II
New Florida A&M head men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II will have to find success quickly.
At Thursday's FAMU Board of Trustees Retreat Zoom meeting, the board passed a one-year contract worth $150,000 for Crarey to lead the Rattlers' men's basketball program.
Advertisement
Crarey's contract will run from its execution date through Aug. 8, 2025.
The contract approval concludes a two-month span where FAMU's Board of Trustees tabled a three-year, $450,000 ($150,000 annually) deal in June after concerns over the alleged dismissal of former Rattlers players and questions about his then-volunteer employment.
Last month, trustees recommended Crarey get a one-year contract , questioning the coach's capability and hoping to lessen the financial impact if FAMU dismissed Crarey before the three-year contract expired.
Crarey previously coached National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics team St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens from 2021 to 2024. He was also the assistant athletic director of the four-year private Catholic school. Last season, Crarey led Bobcats men's basketball to Sun Conference regular season title and was named the league's coach of the year.
Advertisement
Overall, Crarey has a 224-163 record as a head coach with victories over NCAA Division I programs Howard and Delaware State while coaching at Washington Adventist University, another NAIA program and four-year private college in Takoma Parks, Maryland.
Crarey takes over the Rattles, who finished 6-23 last season and hasn't had a winning record since 2006-2007 when soon-to-be FAMU Hall of Famer Mike Gillespie took the program to the NCAA Tournament.
Hired in April, Crarey replaced Robert McCullum , whom FAMU parted ways this March after seven seasons of coaching the Rattlers.
"I do not believe this is a risky hire because of his proven track record and his enthusiasm about being here. I'm confident Coach Crarey's leadership will bring an immediate positive impact to our basketball program," said FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes .
Advertisement
"I look forward to the success Coach Crarey will receive in this pivotal year."
Patrick Crarey II was hired as Florida A&M's 15th head men's basketball coach on April 17, 2024. The Washington D.C. native was previously the head men's basketball coach and assistant athletic director at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Sykes added that FAMU Athletics received a $20,000 donation in support of Crarey from a supporter who asked to remain anonymous. She said that's one of the largest sports-specific donations from an individual donor this year.
Crarey signed a one-year Administrative and Professional Contract with FAMU on July 8, executed by former FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson . Administrative and Professional contracts don't include incentives.
FAMU General Counsel Dr. D. Denise Wallace, who worked on the contract alongside Associate General Counsel David Self, said they prepared an addendum to include incentives.
Advertisement
Crarey will get a $20,000 signing bonus secured by boosters. Other incentives include, but are not limited to, winning Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and appearing in national tournaments.
Sykes chose the incentives.
Incentives will be "out of funds that are available through our foundation accounts," Sykes said when FAMU trustee Kelvin Lawson asked if the incentives would directly impact the athletics budget.
"I did corroborate with VP Sykes and General Counsel Wallace on particular this contract. I'm in agreement with it," said FAMU Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard .
Advertisement
"We did review it. Some things we were able to perhaps leave for later dates. But I feel pretty good about this particular contract."
New FAMU basketball coach Patrick Crarey II supported by VP/AD Tiffani-Dawn Sykes
Florida A&M head men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II has his introductory press conference at the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee, Florida, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Crarey was hired away from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Sykes said that Crarey's $150,000 annual salary is within FAMU's approved athletics budget and over $30,000 less than the average salary in the SWAC.
Last month, Sykes shared that the shortest contract in the SWAC is three years, and the longest is four years, according to the Winthrop Intelligence Database.
Sykes is concerned about how a one-year contract could hurt FAMU men's basketball continuity by posing challenges for recruiting and Academic Progress Rates.
Advertisement
"I am grateful for the board's support for a one-year contract. But, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that I believe a one-year contract is risky," Sykes said. "We need continuity because it's what's best for our staff, the athletics program, and most importantly, our student-athletes."
Crarey has signed eight new players to his inaugural FAMU teams, from junior college to Division I ranks. In July, FAMU men's basketball made a splash pickup in landing Shaqir O'Neal , son of Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, from Texas Southern.
Crarey's first game of his one-year contract will reportedly be at the Big 12 Conference's Texas Christian on Nov. 4, according to Bracketeer's Rocco Miller .
Sykes hopes for Crarey to succeed in leading the Rattlers for a chance to entertain a multiyear contract for the coach to remain at FAMU following the 2024-2025 basketball season.
Advertisement
"I believe that a four-year contract is most appropriate for a Division I head coach," Sykes said when FAMU trustee Loryn May asked her what an ideal contract is.
"However, the practice at FAMU for head coaches of men's and women's basketball and football is a three-year contract. And I would support moving forward with a three-year contract when that opportunity becomes available."
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
No one covers the Rattlers like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU trustees approve 1-year deal for new basketball coach Patrick Crarey II
