Kristian Ferrell
Will Cravens is a basketball coach and analyst. He was born in Scottsburg, Indiana, and played college basketball at Brunswick Junior College in Georgia. He later became a coach at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, where he led his girls' team to victory in the 2011-12 1-A state championship. After stepping down as coach, Cravens continued to work at the school as a counsellor. He has also worked as a college basketball analyst for the MountainWest Sports Network and as a head coach at Weber State.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Dale Cravens |
| Nickname | Joe Cravens |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1954 |
| Birthplace | Scottsburg, Indiana |
| Alma Mater | Brunswick Junior College in Georgia, Texas–Arlington |
| Profession | College basketball coach, Basketball analyst |
| Coaching Career | Head coach at Idaho, Weber State, and interim head coach at Utah, Girls' basketball coach at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden |
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What You'll Learn
Joe Cravens' career as a basketball coach
Joseph Dale Cravens, born on March 9, 1954, in Scottsburg, Indiana, is a former American college basketball coach. He played college basketball at Brunswick Junior College in Georgia and Texas–Arlington. He started his coaching career at his alma mater, spending five seasons assisting Bob "Snake" LeGrand. He then worked as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State in San Marcos for three years.
In 1985, Cravens joined the staff of new head coach Andy Russo at Washington in Seattle for four years in the Pac-10. He then moved to Utah under new head coach Rick Majerus in 1989. When Majerus took a medical leave, Cravens served as the interim head coach of the Utes in the WAC for the remainder of that first season, achieving a 12-12 (7-9 WAC) record. He remained at Utah as an assistant coach for three more seasons before becoming the head coach at Idaho in Moscow in 1993. He led the Vandals to an 18-10 record in his first year and stayed for two more seasons.
After Idaho, Cravens coached in Switzerland for a summer and then returned to the United States as an assistant coach at UC Irvine for a season. He then moved back to Utah and served as an assistant coach at Weber State in Ogden under Ron Abegglen for two seasons. In March 1999, he was promoted to head coach at Weber State, where he compiled a 116-88 record in seven seasons. During the 2002-03 season, he led the team to an undefeated 14-0 record in the Big Sky Conference, but they fell to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament's first round.
Following his time at Weber State, Cravens transitioned to coaching girls' basketball at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden. In his second year, he guided his team to the 2011–12 1-A state championship, defeating Rich, the defending 1-A champion, in the finals. He repeated this feat the following year, leading the team to an undefeated 2012-13 season and a second state title. He stepped down as coach after the 2015 season but remained connected to the school as a counselor.
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Joe Cravens' career as a basketball analyst
Joseph Dale Cravens, born on March 9, 1954, in Scottsburg, Indiana, is a former American college basketball coach. He played college basketball at Brunswick Junior College in Georgia and Texas–Arlington. He started his coaching career at his alma mater, spending five seasons assisting Bob "Snake" LeGrand. He then worked as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State in San Marcos for three years before returning to Texas–Arlington.
In 1985, Cravens joined Andy Russo's staff at Washington in Seattle as an assistant coach for four years. He then moved to Utah under new head coach Rick Majerus in 1989, taking over as interim head coach when Majerus underwent heart surgery. After four years in Salt Lake City, he was hired as the head coach of the Idaho Vandals in Moscow in 1993, where he remained for three seasons. During his time at Idaho, Cravens led the team to an 18-10 record in his first year, followed by 12-win seasons in the next two years.
Following his stint at Idaho, Cravens coached the girl's basketball team at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Utah. In his second year, he led the team to the 2011–12 1-A state championship, capping off an undefeated season. He repeated this feat in the following 2012–13 season, leading the defending champs to a second state title. He stepped down as coach after the 2015 season but remained at the school as a counselor.
In addition to his coaching roles, Cravens worked as a college basketball analyst for the MountainWest Sports Network until the network folded in 2012. Throughout his career, he has made an impact not just on the court but also in the lives of his players, contributing to the development of many successful athletes.
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Joe Cravens' unique personality and sayings
Joseph Dale Cravens, born on March 9, 1954, is a former American college basketball coach with a unique personality and a penchant for colourful sayings. Known for his off-beat and sometimes homely demeanour, Cravens has been described as sounding like he belongs in a different time, perhaps the 1960s Midwest. His distinct personality and witty remarks have not gone unnoticed, with some considering him the "most entertaining man in college hoops".
Cravens' coaching career has taken him across the United States, with stints in Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Seattle, and Utah. He has held assistant and head coaching positions, including at Idaho, Weber State, and as the interim head coach at Utah for a significant portion of a season.
One of Cravens' most memorable moments was his ejection from a game while coaching at Weber State, where he danced in front of a referee to make fun of a block/charge call. This incident showcased his lighthearted approach to the game and his ability to inspire his team.
- "Growing up in Indiana, if you can’t shoot a jumpshot by 14, they make you move to Kentucky."
- "Sawmill strong."
- "If he hits this, Elvis has just about left the building."
- "Idaho State hasn’t beaten Montana since Moby Dick was a minnow."
- "This game is as rare as a fat postman."
- "Trying to stop him once he gets going is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube."
- "Put a saddle on him, and I’m riding him to the finish line."
- "He’s got arms from here to Hoboken."
- "He has been around (insert school) forever and a day."
- "If that went in, I was going home."
Joe Cravens' colourful personality and witty remarks have left a lasting impression on those who have encountered him, adding a unique flavour to the world of college basketball.
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Joe Cravens' time at Weber State
Joseph Dale Cravens, born on March 9, 1954, in Scottsburg, Indiana, is a former American college basketball coach. He played college basketball at Brunswick Junior College in Georgia and Texas–Arlington. Joe Cravens spent nine seasons coaching at Weber State University, including seven seasons as the head coach from 1999 to 2006. He was an assistant coach for Ron Abegglen for two years before being promoted to head coach in March 1999.
During his time at Weber State, Cravens led the Wildcats to an undefeated season and a Big Sky title in 2003. The team went 14-0 in the Big Sky Conference and finished with an overall record of 26-6. Cravens coached two Big Sky MVPs, Harold Arceneaux and Jermaine Boyette, and had players earn All-Big Sky honors 13 times. In 2003, he was named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year.
Cravens has remained involved with Weber State basketball even after his coaching tenure. He has worked as a TV analyst, broadcasting multiple Wildcat games on television and ESPN+. He has also provided commentary for the last seven Big Sky Conference Championships and has helped coach in the Weber State Men's Basketball Alumni Classics.
Prior to his time at Weber State, Cravens spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Utah under Rick Majerus, serving as the interim head coach during the 1989-90 season when Majerus underwent heart surgery. He then became the head coach at the University of Idaho from 1993 to 1996 before returning to Utah to take the head coaching position at Weber State.
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Joe Cravens' arrest at a Black Bear Diner
Joseph Dale Cravens, born on March 9, 1954, is a former American college basketball coach. He was the head coach at Idaho, Weber State, and the interim head coach at Utah for most of a season. In 2014, while coaching high school girls' basketball in the Salt Lake City area, he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for hitting a man with a baseball bat in the parking lot of a Black Bear Diner.
The incident occurred on January 13, 2014, when Cravens met with a man named Matthew Morgan at the Black Bear Diner in Sandy, Utah, to discuss a car accident that had involved Cravens' daughter the previous December. According to Morgan, Cravens demanded an apology for a voicemail Morgan had left regarding the accident. When Morgan refused to apologize, Cravens hit him in the left shin with a wooden baseball bat, leaving a large red mark that was visible to the police.
Following the incident, charges were filed against Cravens, and a $5,000 warrant was issued for his arrest. He made an initial appearance in court on March 21, 2014, and the warrant was recalled. Cravens, who was 60 years old at the time of the incident and resided in South Ogden, was charged with a single count of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, in the 3rd District Court.
Despite the legal trouble, Cravens continued his coaching career at St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Utah, where he led the girls' basketball team to multiple state championships. He stepped down as coach after the 2015 season but remained at the school as a counselor.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Cravens, or more formally known as Joseph Dale Cravens, is a former American college basketball coach and player. He is now a college basketball analyst on the MountainWest Sports Network.
Will Cravens was born and raised in Scottsburg, Indiana.
Will Cravens has been a coach for St. Joseph Catholic High School in Ogden, Weber State, Idaho, and Utah.
Will Cravens led his girls' basketball team at St. Joseph Catholic High School to the 2011-12 1-A state championship. He also won a second state title game in the 2012-13 season.
