'I'm here to win': Patrick Crarey II has clear vision for FAMU's men's basketball program

Patrick Crarey II kept it brief but made his plans for Florida A&M men’s basketball clear.

“Win,” the Rattlers’ newly hired head coach said when asked about his vision.

Crarey, announced as FAMU’s 15th head men’s basketball last Wednesday, exudes hunger and determination to right the program’s ship.

He's risen through the ranks over the last 15 years.

Crarey’s first head coaching job came at Takoma Academy, a high school in Maryland.

Then, Crarey got hired at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program Washington Adventist from 2010-2021. He led the Shock to the program’s first United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship win in 2014.

Prior to FAMU, Crarey head coached St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, where he also served as the athletics program’s Assistant Athletic Director for Game Operations from 2021 to 2024. Crarey coached the Bobcats to the 2024 Sun Conference regular season championship and was named the league’s coach of the year.

Crarey has a record of 224-156 in 14 years of head coaching on the college level.

“I’m a grinder — my first job, 1.25 scholarships, a gym with no AC, and roaches in my office. I didn’t complain. I worked. And that’s what I’m going to do here,” Crarey, 40, said at his introductory press conference in the Al Lawson Center on Thursday.

“It’s a humbling experience. At the same time, I know I’ve earned this. No handouts. So, I’m going to work for more. We’re the number one public HBCU. We need to be the number one HBCU for basketball as well.

“Our program will be real, intentional, and authentic. I’m here to win. And if I didn’t see that possible, I wouldn’t be here.”

Crarey replaces former FAMU men’s basketball coach Robert McCullum. McCullum spent seven years leading the program before FAMU decided to part ways with him on March 20 after seven seasons and a 67-133 record.

Last season, the Rattlers finished 6-23 and missed the eight-team Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year.

FAMU conducted a nationwide search to land Crarey with the help of a five-person search committee that included Rattlers guard Jalen Speer.

FAMU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said Crarey had endorsements from San Antonio Spurs general manager Brian Wright, George Mason men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn, and Marquette men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart.

“My vision for this role included identifying a candidate with successful head college coaching experience, someone who has experienced success at a limited resource institution, someone who has an understanding of the current landscape of college basketball, someone who knows the importance of building relationships with the players, alumni, and community. And lastly, someone who could love FAMU as much as I do,” Sykes said.

“Coach Crarey checked all of those boxes.”

FAMU wanted to give Crarey enough time to begin leading the program before April 15’s closure of the spring period of the NCAA Transfer Portal for undergraduate student-athletes.

Graduate students can enter the portal whenever they want.

“I want to start by thanking VP/AD Sykes and the search committee for moving this process along efficiently and timely,” said FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson.

“Keeping in mind some of the critical dates that the AD had in mind, particularly the closing of the transfer portal. They’ve done yeoman’s work in a short period of time, but more importantly, they brought forward an outstanding candidate for this position.

“It is our responsibility to give him all the support he needs.”

New FAMU head men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II already building rapport within program

Crarey says the most significant resource to success is people.

Along with winning, the Washington D.C. native is fixated on fully immersing himself in FAMU’s culture and building relationships on campus and with university stakeholders.

“I don’t have many slogans. But I have one. Relationships and Championships,” Crarey said. “I’m here on the Highest of Seven Hills to build real, substantial relationships that will last a lifetime. It’s bigger than any monetary involvement that we could ever see.”

Crarey has already built a relationship with the returning FAMU men’s basketball team.

He met his new players before Thursday’s press conference.

“It went good?” Crarey asked his players in attendance, which got answered with a resounding “Yes.”

“They wouldn’t have come over if they didn’t like me,” Crarey continued. “They understood my point of view. Accountability is number one. They were locked in and appreciated the realness.”

New FAMU head men's basketball coach Patrick Crarey II shares game and recruiting plans

Alongside nearly two decades of coaching experience, Crarey got an opportunity of a lifetime last summer.

During the NBA Summer League, Crarey served as a guest coach for the San Antonio Spurs, where he worked closely with 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick and Rookie of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama.

Lessons learned during his coaching career carry over to the system he plans to run at FAMU.

“It enlightened me on many different things in basketball,” Crarey said of the Spurs job. “We will be a schematically, analytically-based team. I do things based on the numbers. I will look at the numbers on the team to understand where we have to get better, and it will start with our winning percentage.

“We’re going to shoot a lot of threes here and put people in position to score the basketball a lot. A lot of threes, a lot of layups, and a lot of high-percentage shots. I will build my team based on shooting, athleticism, basketball IQ, and character.

“We’re FAMU. We’re here to stand out. We’re going to do things our way.”

The first order of business for Crarey is to fill out his coaching staff and recruit players.

Crarey says he has an internal target date for completing his coaching staff.

He says he’s had “open dialogue” with some of his assistants from St. Thomas joining him at FAMU.

The same goes for players at Carey’s previous job.

However, he said he’d consider all levels, high school, junior college, and transfer portal players to join his inaugural Rattlers team.

Crarey hopes to build his team around FAMU forward Keith Lamar, who averaged 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds last season. Lamar entered the transfer portal last month but was present for Crarey’s opening press conference.

“There’s a lot of interest in coming to FAMU. This is a huge brand with the best alumni base in HBCU that expects and deserves to win,” Crarey said.

“Best available. We have to get more athletic, get up and down, shooting. Point guard play is vital. I want to go the Division I route. It’s just a little more comfortable. And I will be taking some NAIA and D2 guys and moving them up. I have a couple, but I can’t put them out there yet. And I’m looking at the high school ranks.

“I’m looking for players. I don’t care if you’re coming from overseas or junior college. The question is, can you play? We’re going to have some guys. I can tell you that.”

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.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Basketball: New Rattlers men's head coach Crarey 'here to win'