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Chris Crawford

A familiar face has been called upon to return as the head coach for the men's soccer program starting in December 2023 as ETBU announced that Chris Crawford will lead the program. Crawford had a very successful three-year reign as head coach for ETBU from 2016-18 winning 25 matches and posting their first 10-win season in 13 years.
 
"I am excited to welcome Coach Crawford back as the Head Coach of Tiger Soccer.  His passion and commitment to Christ-centered athletics, discipleship and excellence in all areas of the student-athlete experience makes him the perfect fit for ETBU and the Men's Soccer program.  I am looking forward to seeing the impact Coach Crawford has on the team and the student-athletes as he invests in the lives of his players, academically, spiritually and athletically," Vice President for Student Engagement and Athletics Ryan Erwin said.
 
Crawford has had 21 players earn All-ASC awards such as Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Freshman of the Year, Defensive Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-Conference, 3rd Team All-Conference, and Honorable Mentions. Under Coach Crawford, ETBU Men’s Soccer hosted it’s first-ever NCAA Division III post-season match in 2018. His 33 wins as a head coach are second all-time in program history behind storied head coach Jose Alonzo's 184 wins.
 
"My family and I are extremely thrilled to be back with ETBU Men's Soccer and continue in building on this great program.  I am beyond thankful for Dr. Blackburn and Mr. Erwin for trusting in me and allowing my family and to pour into these student-athletes and invest in the future of ETBU Soccer," says Crawford.
 
The 2018 season was Crawford's finest season taking ETBU as they hosted and won the program's first post-season match against the University of the Ozarks in the American Southwest Conference tournament, 1-0. They were also seconds away from playing for the ASC Tournament championship falling to UT Dallas, 1-0, in double overtime as a goal was scored in the 109th minute in the semi-final match. That season produced 10 wins which was the most since 2005. Six players earned All-ASC awards and Daniel Rutter and Bryant Botello made the ASC All-Tournament team. ETBU also upset #25 Texas Dallas, 2-1, in regular season as part of their six-match unbeaten streak in the season. His first two seasons brought 15 wins with nine in the 2016 season.
 
Discipleship was a major part of Crawford's program as he started weekly Bible studies and monthly community service. He also took his 2017 team to Nicaragua on a Tiger Athletic Mission Experience (TAME) trip.
 
Prior to ETBU, Crawford re-started the Dallas Baptist University men's soccer program in 2012 serving as the head coach for three seasons. He was on the South Central Region rankings committee for the United Soccer Coaches (USC) and a member of the NCAA Division II regional advisory committee for two years. He has an USC national and advanced national diploma and worked as a coach at both the FCA Dallas and Exact Camp soccer clinics.
 
Crawford played collegiately at DBU from 1999-2001 and received a bachelor's degree in Christian Studies and two Masters Degrees in Kinesiology and Higher Education. He is married to Kerry and they have four children in Maggie (13), Easton (12), Mollie Blake (10), and Chandler (10). He will also continue in his role at ETBU as the Assistant Vice President of University Operations.
 

2024 Highlights

  • 8 win season
  • ASC Tournament semi-final match appearance (#3 seed)
  • 8 players earn All-ASC awards
  • Junior Lopez is the ASC Offensive Player of hte Year & Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
  • Ryan Lord is the ASC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
  • Bruno Palmieri and Junior Lopez are on All-ASC Tournament Team
  • Three players earned AS Player of the Week awards
  • Started the season off 3-0
  • Defeated LeTourneau, 5-1, in final ASC meeting


2018 Highlights

  • 10 win season
  • Program's first-ever NCAA Division III post-season match on campus
  • ASC Tournament semi-final match appearance
  • Won ASC Tournament first-round match
  • 6 players earn All-ASC awards
  • Daniel Rutter and Bryant Botello are on the All-ASC Tournament team
  • 6-match unbeaten streak
  • Upset #21 Texas Dallas, 2-1


2017 Highlights

  • Shutout Hendrix College 3-0 at home
  • Defeated Millsaps College 3-2 in Jackson, MS
  • Scored a season-high four goals in a 4-3 victory over Howard Payne
  • Defeated Centenary College 2-1 on the road


2016 Highlights

  • Won nine games which was the most since 2005
  • Earned four wins in the ASC
  • Five players named All-ASC
  • Team posted seven shutouts in the nine wins
  • Picked up a big ASC win over Texas Tyler, 2-1, at Cornish Field
About Coach Crawford
  • Graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Christian Studies
  • Earned two Master’s Degrees from Dallas Baptist University in Kinesiology and High Education
  • Restarted the men’s soccer program at Dallas Baptist University in 2012 with no scholarships
  • Head men’s soccer coach at Dallas Baptist University for three years (2012-14)
  • Played for Dallas Baptist University from 1999-2001
  • Was the Director of Administrative Affairs at Dallas Baptist (2014-16)
  • Member of the NSCAA Division II South Central Region rankings committee for two years
  • Member of the NCAA Division II regional advisory committee for two years
  • Holds a NSCAA National and Advanced National Diploma
  • Worked camps at FCA Dallas and Exact Camp Soccer Clinics
  • Held positions at DBU that included resident director, director of intramural sports, fitness center director, athletic training center director, and director of apartment life
Missions/Servant Leadership
  • Led ETBU men’s soccer team on Tiger Athletic Missions Experience trip to Nicaragua in May 2017
  • Took Dallas Baptist University team on a mission trip to Curitiba, Brazil, in 2014 during the FIFA World Cup
  • Team helped the Brazil area recover from a massive rain storm that displaced 13,000 people
  • Team played a semi-pro team
  • DBU teams worked soccer clinics at Mercy Street West Dallas and Grand Prairie YMCA
Dallas Baptist University
  • Went 4-4-1 in conference play in 2013 for a fourth-place tie
  • 2013 conference finish was best yet in new program
  • Won six matches in 2013
  • In first season with no scholarships, won four matches
Record at ETBU
 
Year Overall ASC ASC Tournament
2024 8-10-1 3-4-1 0-1
2018 10-6-2  6-3-2 1-1
2017 6-8-3 2-7-2 NA
2016 9-9-0 4-6-0 NA
Total 33-33-6 15-20-5 1-2
 
All-ASC Players
ASC Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year
Junior Lopez (2024)

Freshman Offensive Player of the Year
Junior Lopez (2024)

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Lord

2024
Dylan Garcia (1st team)
Joel Garica (1st team)
Junior Lopez (1st team)
Jacob Wenzel (2nd team)
Joseph Flores (2nd team)
Regan Trojacek (2nd team)
Bruno Palmieri (honorable mention)
Ryan Lord (honorable mention)

2018
Daniel Rutter (1st team)
Travis Atkinson (2nd team)
Silas Sangano (3rd team)
Juan Cairo (honorable mention)
Jacob Lopez (honorable mention)
Bryant Botello (honorable mention)
 
2017
Jordan Burke (3rd team)
Travis Atkinson (3rd team)
Daniel Rutter (honorable mention)
Max Ponticorvo (honorable mention)
 
2016
Joel Ramirez (2nd team)
Travis Atkinson (2nd team)
Daniel Rutter (3rd team)
David Jackson (honorable mention)
Jordan Burke (honorable mention)

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