John Crane enters his tenth season as the head coach of the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball program in 2009. Over the course of the last nine years, Crane has steered the Ducks to some of the most successful seasons in school history. During his tenure at Stevens, Crane has accumulated a total of 164 victories. As a result, he ranks second on the program’s all-time list for career coaching wins.
In 2002, Crane guided the Ducks to their only NCAA Tournament appearance as they captured the Knickerbocker Conference title in just his second season with the team. In addition, Crane was tabbed as the Coach of the Year by the Knickerbocker and Skyline conferences as well as the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association.
Three years later, Stevens narrowly missed a return trip to the NCAA Tournament as the Ducks fell to Centenary College in the finals of the Skyline Conference Tournament by final scores of 6-3 and 6-5. Ultimately, Stevens finished that season ranked nationally in three statistical categories as a team. They ranked 13th in stolen bases, 20th in earned-run average and 29th in fielding percentage.
In 2006, the Ducks set a new school record for wins in a single season after compiling a 27-12 mark. They were also ranked 13th in the nation in earned run average with a 2.93 ERA. Stevens opened the year on a tear by winning 14 of its first 16 games, which resulted in the team earning its first-ever national ranking at No. 14. In addition, they recorded a 12-9 victory against second-ranked SUNY Cortland in their annual Florida trip. Lastly, Crane and his assistant coaches were awarded with the Skyline Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honor. He also shared the NJCBA Division II/III Coach of the Year award with Norm Schoenig of Montclair State University.
The ensuing season, Crane led the Ducks to the finals of Skyline Conference Tournament, where they lost to eventual league champion Manhattanville College. He also steered two of his star players, Joe Gunshor and Adam Sandt, to all-conference, all-region and all-state honors.
In 2008, Crane guided a very young team through a difficult schedule and a new conference (Empire 8) to a total of 10 wins. Five different athletes earned player of the week honors throughout the season.
Last season the Ducks posted a 21-20 overall record en route to an ECAC Metro Championship Game berth. Six members of the Ducks earned All-Empire 8 honors, including one first-team honoree, four-second team awardees, and one honorable mention selection. Three Ducks also earned All-New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association recognition with two-student athletes earning two all-rookie accolades and one garnering all-NJCBA third-team honors.
Prior to Stevens, Crane served as the top assistant coach at Monmouth University, where he helped the Hawks to a second-place finish in the 2000 Northeast Conference Tournament. He was also the assistant coach at Wagner College in 1999, where he assisted the Seahawks coaching staff in guiding the team to a school-record 20-win season.
As a player, Crane developed into a standout pitcher and first baseman for Kingsway Regional High School, where he was coached by his father Bill. During his time there, Crane garnered All-Tri County and third-team all-state honors.
Upon graduation, Crane accepted an athletic scholarship to Rider University, where he helped lead the Broncs to three Northeast Conference titles and an appearance in the 1994 NCAA Division I Tournament. He graduated from Rider in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, which was followed by a selection in the 42nd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Crane currently resides in Belford, N.J. with his wife, Dana, two-year old daughter, Alexandra and six-month old son Carlton John.
