Troy University Athletics
Troy Names Joe Craddock Offensive Coordinator
12/27/2021 9:55:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Troy head coach Jon Sumrall announced the first piece of his coaching staff with the addition of Joe Craddock as the Trojans' offensive coordinator. Craddock, who will also coach Troy's quarterbacks, joins the Troy staff with five years of experience as an FBS offensive coordinator.
Once the youngest offensive coordinator in the country, Craddock has spent the last two seasons helping lead the UAB offensive following stints as the offensive coordinator at SMU (2015-17) and Arkansas (2018-19).
"Joe is one of the brightest young offensive minds in the country and already has vast experience as a coordinator at the highest level of our sport," Sumrall said. "His connections within the state of Alabama as both a high school and collegiate coach will prove invaluable on the recruiting trail. His offensive system causes opposing defensive staffs fits and thrives because of its ability to adapt and adjust based on the skill of the players on the roster."
With the Blazers, Craddock focused most of his attention on UAB's tight ends, and his players produced at an elite level. Gerrit Prince earned C-USA second team honors in 2021 as he led all tight ends nationally in yards per reception (19.4) and paced the team in receptions (34) and touchdowns (10) while ranking second in receiving yards (699) – he had two touchdown receptions in UAB's Independence Bowl victory over No. 13 BYU.
"I couldn't be more excited to be joining Coach Sumrall's staff at Troy University," Craddock said. "This program has a tradition of winning championships, and I'm looking forward to helping reestablish a culture where we embrace expectations. I've seen firsthand the passionate fan base that encompasses Trojan Nation and look forward to that first game at The Vet leading the Troy offense. I can't wait to get on campus and start building relationships with our players."
In his first season with the Blazers, Craddock helped UAB a Conference USA championship. UAB's tight ends accounted for five of the Blazers' 14 receiving touchdowns, including two multi-touchdown games for Prince.
Before joining UAB, Craddock, a native of Chelsea, Ala., spent the previous two years as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas. In his first season with the Razorbacks, he engineered one of the nation's most productive tight end units as they ranked second nationally in tight end touchdowns and fourth in tight end first downs.
Prior to Arkansas, Craddock became the youngest offensive coordinator in the country at the time, joining SMU in 2015 and leading the Mustangs' offense for three years.
With the Mustangs, Craddock guided quarterback Ben Hicks to numerous SMU passing records, including career passing yards (9,081), TD passes (71), TDs responsible for (74), completions (718) and 300-yard games (12).
Over his three seasons with the Mustangs, Craddock's offense produced a 3,000-yard passer (Ben Hicks, 2017), two 1,000-yard rushers (Xavier Jones, 2017; Braeden West, 2016) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Courtland Sutton, 2017 and 2016; Trey Quinn, 2017).
During the 2017 regular season, Craddock's unit ranked No. 8 in the FBS in scoring offense (40.2 points), No. 13 in total offense (493.8 yards) and No. 16 in passing yards (308 yards). In addition, SMU was one of just two teams in the country that featured a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and multiple 1,000-yard receivers in All-Americans Sutton and Quinn.
For his efforts, Craddock was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which is annually presented to the nation's top assistant coach.
Before his time in Dallas, Craddock coached at Clemson for three seasons as an offensive graduate assistant (2013-14) and a player development coach (2012).
During his time at Clemson, Craddock assisted in the development of current NFL star Deshaun Watson. In 2014, the Tigers' averaged 448.2 yards of total offense per game, ranked No. 21 in scoring offense (35.4) and was one of just 14 teams in the FBS to average 200 yards rushing and passing per game.
Craddock played quarterback at Middle Tennessee from 2004-08. Upon graduating with a degree in liberal arts, he spent two years playing professionally in the Italian Football League from 2009-10. While playing for the Parma Panthers, Craddock guided his team to the Superbowl Italiano, defeating the Catania Elephants 56-26 in the championship game.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Craddock was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Briarwood Christian, from 2010-11. Briarwood went 25-4 during Craddock's tenure and finished as the state runner-up in 2010.
Craddock and his wife, Abby, have a daughter Charlie, and a son Cain.
Once the youngest offensive coordinator in the country, Craddock has spent the last two seasons helping lead the UAB offensive following stints as the offensive coordinator at SMU (2015-17) and Arkansas (2018-19).
"Joe is one of the brightest young offensive minds in the country and already has vast experience as a coordinator at the highest level of our sport," Sumrall said. "His connections within the state of Alabama as both a high school and collegiate coach will prove invaluable on the recruiting trail. His offensive system causes opposing defensive staffs fits and thrives because of its ability to adapt and adjust based on the skill of the players on the roster."
With the Blazers, Craddock focused most of his attention on UAB's tight ends, and his players produced at an elite level. Gerrit Prince earned C-USA second team honors in 2021 as he led all tight ends nationally in yards per reception (19.4) and paced the team in receptions (34) and touchdowns (10) while ranking second in receiving yards (699) – he had two touchdown receptions in UAB's Independence Bowl victory over No. 13 BYU.
"I couldn't be more excited to be joining Coach Sumrall's staff at Troy University," Craddock said. "This program has a tradition of winning championships, and I'm looking forward to helping reestablish a culture where we embrace expectations. I've seen firsthand the passionate fan base that encompasses Trojan Nation and look forward to that first game at The Vet leading the Troy offense. I can't wait to get on campus and start building relationships with our players."
In his first season with the Blazers, Craddock helped UAB a Conference USA championship. UAB's tight ends accounted for five of the Blazers' 14 receiving touchdowns, including two multi-touchdown games for Prince.
Before joining UAB, Craddock, a native of Chelsea, Ala., spent the previous two years as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas. In his first season with the Razorbacks, he engineered one of the nation's most productive tight end units as they ranked second nationally in tight end touchdowns and fourth in tight end first downs.
Prior to Arkansas, Craddock became the youngest offensive coordinator in the country at the time, joining SMU in 2015 and leading the Mustangs' offense for three years.
With the Mustangs, Craddock guided quarterback Ben Hicks to numerous SMU passing records, including career passing yards (9,081), TD passes (71), TDs responsible for (74), completions (718) and 300-yard games (12).
Over his three seasons with the Mustangs, Craddock's offense produced a 3,000-yard passer (Ben Hicks, 2017), two 1,000-yard rushers (Xavier Jones, 2017; Braeden West, 2016) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Courtland Sutton, 2017 and 2016; Trey Quinn, 2017).
During the 2017 regular season, Craddock's unit ranked No. 8 in the FBS in scoring offense (40.2 points), No. 13 in total offense (493.8 yards) and No. 16 in passing yards (308 yards). In addition, SMU was one of just two teams in the country that featured a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and multiple 1,000-yard receivers in All-Americans Sutton and Quinn.
For his efforts, Craddock was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which is annually presented to the nation's top assistant coach.
Before his time in Dallas, Craddock coached at Clemson for three seasons as an offensive graduate assistant (2013-14) and a player development coach (2012).
During his time at Clemson, Craddock assisted in the development of current NFL star Deshaun Watson. In 2014, the Tigers' averaged 448.2 yards of total offense per game, ranked No. 21 in scoring offense (35.4) and was one of just 14 teams in the FBS to average 200 yards rushing and passing per game.
Craddock played quarterback at Middle Tennessee from 2004-08. Upon graduating with a degree in liberal arts, he spent two years playing professionally in the Italian Football League from 2009-10. While playing for the Parma Panthers, Craddock guided his team to the Superbowl Italiano, defeating the Catania Elephants 56-26 in the championship game.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Craddock was the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Briarwood Christian, from 2010-11. Briarwood went 25-4 during Craddock's tenure and finished as the state runner-up in 2010.
Craddock and his wife, Abby, have a daughter Charlie, and a son Cain.
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