| Jason Crafton | |
| Birth Date: | 30 January 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1999–2003 |
| Player Team1: | Nyack |
| Coach Years1: | 2003–2005 |
| Coach Team1: | Villanova (video coordinator) |
| Coach Years2: | 2005–2010 |
| Coach Team2: | Navy (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 2010–2012 |
| Coach Team3: | Navy (associate HC) |
| Coach Years4: | 2012–2018 |
| Coach Team4: | Nyack |
| Coach Years5: | 2018–2019 |
| Coach Team5: | Delaware Blue Coats (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 2019–2024 |
| Coach Team6: | Maryland Eastern Shore |
| Tournament Record: | 0–1 (TBC) |
Jason Crafton (born January 30, 1982) is an American basketball coach. He's the former head coach of the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball.[1]
Crafton played college basketball at Nyack College, where he was named team captain his junior and senior seasons. He was also a member of the schools only CACC Championship Team in the 1999–2000 season.[1]
After graduation, Crafton joined Jay Wright's staff at Villanova as a video coordinator for two seasons until 2005, when he accepted an assistant coaching position at Navy where he'd serve under fellow former Villanova staffer Billy Lange as well as a season under Ed DeChellis.[2] Crafton would return to Nyack to become the school's head men's basketball coach where from 2012 to 2018 he compiled a 47–108 record before accepting an assistant coaching position with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League.[3] [4]
On April 24, 2019, Crafton was named the head coach at Maryland Eastern Shore.[1] [5]
The 2022–23 season was a historic one in many ways for Hawk Basketball. Crafton's squad finished 18–13, leading to the program's best win percentage (.581) in 50 years and the most wins in a season of Crafton's coaching career. The team broke last season's school records in steals (345) and steals-per-game (11.1). Their per-game clip ranked #1 in the nation this season, while the team also ranked #1 nationally in turnovers forced per contest (19.0). Crafton guided the Hawks to a 10–3 record at William P. Hytche Athletic Center, the best home mark for the program since the 1973–74 season. The team also logged significant non-conference wins at Temple on December 20 and Columbia on December 28. The Hawks finished the first half of MEAC play at 6–1, the best Division I record to open league play in 50 years. Under Crafton, forward Nathaniel Pollard Jr. was named to the All-MEAC Second Team and guard Zion Styles received All-MEAC Third Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Pollard was also named to the 2023 HBCU All-Star Game in Houston, Texas. Crafton was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Coach of the Year award, recognizing the top Division I minority coach annually.[6]