LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola University women's basketball coach and associate athletic director Ken Crawford has stepped down after six seasons at the University.
Crawford who has been “commuting” between Bellingham, Washington (where his wife and family live) and La Mirada for the past six years, is moving back to the Northwest to start his third stint as head boys basketball coach at Bellingham High School.
“I have been blessed with great athletes and great support here at Biola,” said Crawford. “I will be forever grateful to Coach Holmquist and the opportunities I have had at Biola. I leave with great memories, experiences and friends.”
Crawford, who leaves Biola as the second-winningest coach in program history, led the Eagles to a complete turn around and just finished off one of the program's best three-year spans. He recorded an overall record of 94-91 in six seasons, going 65-31 with three-straight NAIA Tournament appearances over the last three seasons on his tenure.
“Coach Crawford has been a wonderful coach, colleague and friend,” said Biola Athletic Director Dave Holmquist. “He has done an excellent job with the women's program. The contributions he has made to our athletic program, both as a coach and an administrator, have been very significant and will have lasting value.”
Crawford's final season at the helm proved to be one the best seasons in program history, culminating in a third-straight trip to the NAIA Tournament and GSAC Coach of the Year honors. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 25-5 record and placed second in the GSAC with a record of 16-4. It was the third-straight 20-win season and capped a 65-31 overall record over that stretch.
Crawford took over a program which had finished above .500 just six times over the past 15 season. Through his first three seasons, the Eagles were 29-60, managing a GSAC tournament appearance for the first time in four years.
In 2008-09, Biola roared back into the national picture as Crawford led the Eagles to an impressive 20-12 overall record—its first 20-win season in five years—and an NAIA Tournament appearance. At the NAIA Championships, the Eagles won their first-ever national-tournament game, beating Trevecca Nazarene TN, 63-57.
Crawford again led the Eagles to a 20-win season in 2009-10, the first time Biola had back-to-back 20-win seasons in 20 years. The Eagles finished 20-12 overall and a return trip to the NAIA National Tournament, falling in the first round to Lewis-Clark State.
