BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin Wallace University offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Ryan Crow has been selected as one of 39 National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association football coaches to participate in the 2016 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy from February 19 through February 21 in Tampa, Florida.
Crow is in his second season at BW and first as the offensive coordinator in 2015-2016. Hew served as an offensive line coach in 2014-2015 and was promoted to OC this year. In his first season as offensive coordinator, the Yellow Jacket offense averaged 31.6 points and 420.6 yards of total offense per game. His multiple sets and offensive innovations made the BW offense one of the most dynamic in Division III in 2015.
Crow had extensive experience at the NCAA Division I level as a student-athlete, graduate assistant and assistant coach. Overall, he has helped to coach 12 players who were selected in the NFL (National Football League) and three who were selected in the MLB (Major League Baseball) drafts.
Crow earned his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University in 2010. The Findlay, Ohio native played linebacker for the Falcons and helped BGSU to a Mid-American Conference East Division co-championship in 2007. He also played on BGSU teams that appeared in the GMAC (2007) and Humanitarian (2009) bowl games, and later coached in the Little Caesars (2011) and Heart of Dallas (2012) bowls.
Following graduation from BGSU, Crow served as a football Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Florida before accepting a position at Purdue University. He joined the Purdue University staff as an assistant football and baseball Strength & Conditioning Coach in June of 2011 and remained in that spot until June of 2012. Crow was promoted to Assistant Offensive Line Coach in June of 2012. He also served as the Purdue Recruiting Assistant for Recruiting Media.
A committee composed of coaches and administrators from the Association membership selected 29 participants from the NCAA. The NFL selected 30 participants, many also current NCAA coaches, through an internal process.
The academy was developed in 2011 as a collaborative effort between NCAA leadership development and NFL Player Engagement to boost diversity in the college game. The invitees from NCAA member schools are coaches who have fewer than eight years of college coaching experience. The college coaches will learn and network with NCAA athletics administrators, NCAA national office staff, current and former NFL players, NFL directors of player personnel and NFL Player Engagement staff.
The keynote speakers and panelists for the 2016 academy include NCAA athletics directors, current and former NCAA and NFL head coaches, and football industry experts.
At the academy, coaches are trained in a variety of areas that encourage effective coaching and improve student-athlete well-being at both the college and professional levels. The coaches gain knowledge from a variety of workshops and interactive discussion sessions. Topical education and conversation during the academy can include effective communication with campus and community constituents; the importance of building a culture focused on the overall success of athletes, both on and off the field; budget management of a football program; and coaching strategies and philosophies. The group will grow a professional network of individuals that include the other participants, NCAA and NFL staff, and other key resources in the sport.
The academy is one of three programs NCAA leadership development tailors to specific points in a football coach's career. The American Football Coaches Association/NCAA 30 Under 30 Coaches Leadership Institute is a professional development and networking opportunity offered in January at the AFCA Convention to select individuals who have shown a passion for the college football coaching profession. In June, the NCAA Champion Forum will kick off a unique, yearlong professional development opportunity for current coordinators, assistant and associate coaches in order to help them grasp a realistic view of a head football coach's role and the preparation required to build a successful program.
For more information and an entire list of the 39 participants, please visit: https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/39-ncaa-football-coaches-selected-2016-ncaa-and-nfl-coaches-academy.
