Rodney Crawford to MU (Assistant Coach)

[TallTitan34]

https://gomarquette.com/news/2026/5/12/mens-basketball-mubb-hires-rodney-crawford-as-assistant-coach

[Billy Hoyle]

https://gomarquette.com/news/2026/5/12/mens-basketball-mubb-hires-rodney-crawford-as-assistant-coach

A two-year letterwinner at Cincinnati from 2000–02, Crawford played on teams that went a combined 56–14 while advancing to the NCAA Tournament each season. Most notably, he helped the Bearcats go 31–4 while climbing as high as fifth in the Associated Press poll his senior year.

              

That means he was on the team when Donald Little hit the game-winner that cost us the conference title and a 4 seed. One of my most painful losses as a Marquette fan.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Welcome!  I really respect Shaka for going outside his network and inner circle by hiring an assistant that he has no experience or ties to.  A new voice can be valuable.

Doesn't look like there is anyone in the portal still from South Alabama, so wouldn't imagine Crawford bringing anyone with him this cycle. 

[brewcity77]

I really struggle to understand this hire.

We had two positions to fill. Nevada Smith as the offensive expert & DeAndre Haynes as the back court developer. We added two defensive specialists who basically teach the same kind of pressure turnover defense that Shaka already coaches.

These don't feel like hires that will challenge the status quo or bring new ideas, they will just reinforce what we're already doing.

I hope I end up wrong on these, but it seems like they dragged their feet and ended up with one assistant that was Shaka throwing a life preserver to a friend that got fired and a second that doesn't remotely fit the program needs. This feels like taking all the insularity and group think that led to the worst Marquette record in decades and doubling down on it while seeing the most innovative minds in the room head out the door.

[MuggsyB]

I really struggle to understand this hire.

We had two positions to fill. Nevada Smith as the offensive expert & DeAndre Haynes as the back court developer. We added two defensive specialists who basically teach the same kind of pressure turnover defense that Shaka already coaches.

These don't feel like hires that will challenge the status quo or bring new ideas, they will just reinforce what we're already doing.

I hope I end up wrong on these, but it seems like they dragged their feet and ended up with one assistant that was Shaka throwing a life preserver to a friend that got fired and a second that doesn't remotely fit the program needs. This feels like taking all the insularity and group think that led to the worst Marquette record in decades and doubling down on it while seeing the most innovative minds in the room head out the door.

You know far more than I do but yes, I don't really get this hire.

[K1 Lover]

I really struggle to understand this hire.

We had two positions to fill. Nevada Smith as the offensive expert & DeAndre Haynes as the back court developer. We added two defensive specialists who basically teach the same kind of pressure turnover defense that Shaka already coaches.

These don't feel like hires that will challenge the status quo or bring new ideas, they will just reinforce what we're already doing.

I hope I end up wrong on these, but it seems like they dragged their feet and ended up with one assistant that was Shaka throwing a life preserver to a friend that got fired and a second that doesn't remotely fit the program needs. This feels like taking all the insularity and group think that led to the worst Marquette record in decades and doubling down on it while seeing the most innovative minds in the room head out the door.

Genuinely asking -- how important is it to have a de facto offensive coordinator other than the head coach? I figured the departure of Nevada meant they'd be hiring a new offensive specialist, but since it looks like they're not, does someone else fill in, or do they simply figure they have the offense down and can run it just fine without him?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't know enough about South Alabama to know whether Campbell brings new ideas or reinforces the status quo. It looks like South Alabama relied pretty heavily on recruiting transfers the last two years. I wonder if he brings portal recruiting experience

[BCHoopster]

Can he help in recruiting, that's all that matters.  A coach after 15 years can coach either side. Did Nevada Snith help Gold change his line drive shot or did he make Hamilton or Clark, offensive threats, so how good was Nevada guru Smith do? To me
Nothing special.

[MU82]

Genuinely asking -- how important is it to have a de facto offensive coordinator other than the head coach? I figured the departure of Nevada meant they'd be hiring a new offensive specialist, but since it looks like they're not, does someone else fill in, or do they simply figure they have the offense down and can run it just fine without him?

Ners turned it down, so they hired this Crawford guy.

[brewcity77]

Genuinely asking -- how important is it to have a de facto offensive coordinator other than the head coach? I figured the departure of Nevada meant they'd be hiring a new offensive specialist, but since it looks like they're not, does someone else fill in, or do they simply figure they have the offense down and can run it just fine without him?

In 11 years as a head coach, Shaka had an average offensive ranking of 77.5 between VCU & Texas with three top-40 offenses in eleven years.

Since adding Nevada to his staff, he's had an average offensive ranking of 45.5 with four top-40 offenses in six years. If you discount this past year that's an average ranking of 31.0.

If Shaka's history was that of a great offensive coach, it wouldn't bother me much. But it's pretty clear his expertise is on the defensive end and we're left to hope enough of Nevada's system carries over even though this particular group of players was the worst he hasn't at executing it. Add in the departure of Haynes, who would've been developing the offensive skills of James, Stevens, and Minessale and I think there's a basis for concern.

[GoldenEagles03]

Now that Nevada is gone, is it required that we forget everything he implemented or are we still allowed to follow those principles

[NCMUFan]

A Huggy Bear alumni!

[SchnitzelBoy]

I wonder if Shaka wants to stick with Nevada's system, so he brought in what he views as steady hands that can recruit but won't immediately mess with the status quo on offense. Shaka and the rest of the staff know (or should know, by now) Nevada's system well enough to implement it.

I never have strong reactions to assistant coaching hires, but this one doesn't generate a ton of confidence. It also doesn't seem worthy of the panic button, either.

[Jay Bee]

...another note - assistant coaching max was expanded a few years ago. #Yawn

But also...

#LastYear

[swoopem]

I wonder if Shaka wants to stick with Nevada's system, so he brought in what he views as steady hands that can recruit but won't immediately mess with the status quo on offense. Shaka and the rest of the staff know (or should know, by now) Nevada's system well enough to implement it.

I never have strong reactions to assistant coaching hires, but this one doesn't generate a ton of confidence. It also doesn't seem worthy of the panic button, either.

Recruit to South Alabama and FIU? I'm not sure if these guys are recruiting stars

[ATL MU Warrior]

I think getting anyone to agree to go to South Alabama is quite an accomplishment. 

[Nukem2]

I think getting anyone to agree to go to South Alabama is quite an accomplishment. 

Hey, it's still D1...... but

[Stretchdeltsig]

Can he help in recruiting, that's all that matters.  A coach after 15 years can coach either side. Did Nevada Snith help Gold change his line drive shot or did he make Hamilton or Clark, offensive threats, so how good was Nevada guru Smith do? To me
Nothing special.

You're spot on. Thought Smith did a poor job as the offensive coach and shooting coach. Nice guy, but ineffective.

[The Sultan]

You're spot on. Thought Smith did a poor job as the offensive coach and shooting coach. Nice guy, but ineffective.

??? Marquette's offense under Smith has been great. Except for last year.

Here were their kenpom offensive rankings:

64
7
21
35
118

[brewcity77]

You're spot on. Thought Smith did a poor job as the offensive coach and shooting coach. Nice guy, but ineffective.

Poor job as offensive coach? That's a laughable take. Even last year when the offensive ranking declined, we still got great shots, we just sucked at making them.

[GoldenEagles03]

Poor job as offensive coach? That's a laughable take. Even last year when the offensive ranking declined, we still got great shots, we just sucked at making them.

Do you think we will all of a sudden be incapable of creating good shots without Smith on the bench?

[The Sultan]

Do you think we will all of a sudden be incapable of creating good shots without Smith on the bench?

I guess we will find out.

[GoldenEagles03]

I guess we will find out.

It seems like defense has always been a bigger issue for us. Even when the offense has been bad we still get every open shot we could want. I don't see why that would have to change with Smith gone.

I like fixing defense.

[MuMark]

It seems like defense has always been a bigger issue for us. Even when the offense has been bad we still get every open shot we could want. I don't see why that would have to change with Smith gone.

I like fixing defense.

Not sure either was a bigger issue........overall defensive efficiency has been good to excellent ever since Shaka has been here.

Even last year when it started off horribly it ended up 54th.

Offense was the far bigger issue last season but it wasn't because we weren't producing good shots.......we just didn't make nearly enough of them.

Seems like a personal issue that can be improved with improvement of existing young players and a few new pieces that can target some area of weakness.