FAMU’s men’s basketball team, which has already lost about 75% of its production from last year’s team, is also losing its head coach.
FAMU hired Patrick Crarey to be the Rattlers’ 15th men’s basketball coach; shortly thereafter, Crarey was disrespected by the Board of Trustees when they offered him a one-year contract worth $150,000, questioning his coaching experiences. It is important to note that before Crarey even stepped foot on campus; he was the 2014 ICAA Coach of the Year, 2020 A.I.I. Conference Coach of the Year, 2024 Sun Conference Coach of the Year, had six NAIA National Tournament appearances, and had six 20-plus win seasons.
The cliché would be, “Crarey benefited from FAMU more than FAMU benefitted from Crarey.”
But that is the furthest thing from the truth. In only one season at FAMU, Crarey had the most wins in a single season for Florida A&M since 2008; and he led the school to its first ever SWAC Tournament win. He was also a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Coaching Award and had the SWAC Player of the Year as well as Newcomer of the Year.
In the seven years before Carey’s arrival, FAMU men’s basketball amassed a 67–133 total record.
After a successful first season as FAMU head coach, the FAMU Board of Trustees approved a two-year extension worth $330,000 in February, and it was suspected that he signed it in a heartbeat. Unbeknownst to the Rattler fanbase and the Board of Trustees, the damage had already been done.
Crarey spoke to HBCU Sports and went into detail on why he decided to make a move to SWAC rival Grambling State University.
“This move was about winning within an organization that believed in my capabilities from day one,” he said during an introductory press conference on Friday. “Today starts our new journey together. What you believe about yourself, others will believe about you, too.”
The departure of Crarey from the men’s basketball program leaves FAMU in a challenging situation; with the transfer portal closing on April 22 and the roster depleted, it should be a top priority to get a new head men’s basketball coach in Al Lawson as soon as possible.
Angela Suggs spoke to FAMU Athletics about the transition. “We want to take a moment to express our appreciation for Coach Crarey’s dedication and passion during his time at Florida A&M. His leadership and guidance have been valuable, inspiring us to strive for continued excellence. A search for a new head coach is underway,” Suggs said.
Grambling State has its coach for the future and seems to be very happy with its decision. Meanwhile, FAMU is left scrambling, and what was already a shaky program appears to be in big trouble.