NSU’s head men’s basketball coach Jim Crutchfield captivates NBA coaches like Erik Spoelstra and Joe Mazzulla. Between his unconventional approach to the game, unique recruiting philosophy, and highest winning percentage among coaches at any level in NCAA history, Crutchfield has been on their radar since he joined NSU in 2017.
“Crutchfield’s style is so different and unique. There’s a lot of coaches around the country that call him to say, ‘How do you play your style? What do you do?’” said John Sung, interim athletic director.
Crutchfield’s success has gained the attention of many NBA greats, as he was featured in the New York Times on Jan 13. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens, former University of Miami coach Jim Larrañaga, and University of Michigan coach Dusty May have all met with Crutchfield during the past few years to learn about his techniques.
“Why would they want to talk to me? You got me. I have no idea,” Crutchfield said.
Currently serving his eighth year and seventh season as head coach for the Sharks, Crutchfield developed a distinctive approach to both player recruitment and development. Due to the demanding nature and competitiveness of his coaching style, only specific athletes end up under Crutchfield’s guidance.
“I’ve always been told my whole life that I play hard, and when I got here I realized, I don’t really play that hard and that’s something you have to adapt to,” said Nick Smith, assistant coach and former player under Crutchfield during the 2022-2023 season.
Despite never stepping foot on a basketball court as a college athlete, Crutchfield has the ability to identify and recruit athletes who are not only talented, but also possess the character and work ethic to thrive in his demanding system.
“The important key here is that the players have to buy in. They have to understand the importance of playing hard, so I’m not yelling at them and telling them all the time how important it is. They know it themselves,” Crutchfield said.
This mutual trust and respect are evident in the strong relationships Crutchfield fosters with his players and assistant coaches.
“He’s not really telling us what to say or what to do. But I think he understands that we trust him and he trusts us. And he expects us and trusts us to make the right decision every time,” said RJ Sunahara, assistant coach and former player under Crutchfield from 2019-2023.
Unlike other basketball coaches, Crutchfield, who first coached at Cameron High School, draws upon his 11 years of experience as a high school math teacher to bring an analytical edge to the game.
“I think there’s a logic to math, numbers don’t lie. It’s a logic of if-then conditional thinking and it’s no different than basketball. If we do this, then we can expect that. That type of conditioning that you have in geometry is a philosophy that applies to basketball coaching,” Crutchfield said.
With a staggering 542-86 career record, Crutchfield has not only built a winning program with his unique approach, but also developed a long line of talent. Under his leadership at NSU, eight players have embarked on professional careers, nine have earned All-America honors, and four have been recognized as CoSIDA Academic All-District selections. Furthermore, he coached two D2CCA National Players of the Year, seven First Team All-SSC performers, three SSC Newcomers of the Year, two SSC Freshmen of the Year, two SSC Players of the Year, one D2CCA South Region Player of the Year, and one NABC National Player of the Year.
This impressive track record, however, only tells part of the story.
“Part of it is the numbers but the other part is a human element of how coach [Crutchfield] can inspire and connect people. A lot of our coaches, like some of our younger coaches, will seek him to ask him for his advice and I think the one thing that everyone talks about is his system, but the culture of his team is probably the most amazing thing,” Sung said.
Crutchfield’s legacy extends far beyond his impressive win-loss record, inspiring not only his players and current NBA coaches, but also the next generation of future coaches.
“I hope I’ll be coaching this game for 50 or 60 years and I’ll be running it the same way he’s running it,” Smith said.
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