A familiar face has been called upon to return as the head coach for the men's soccer program for 2024 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 had 15 players earn All-ASC awards and hosted ETBU's first-ever NCAA Division III post-season match on campus in 2018. His 25 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 Texas 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.

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

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

25-23-5

12-16-4

1-1

All-ASC Players

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)