Wikipedia

Jim Crafton

James Blair Crafton (October 23, 1924 – February 18, 2006) was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach, college athletics administrator, and educator. He served as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers College (ATSC)—now known as University of Central Arkansas—in Conway, Arkansas from 1952 to 1954 and Principia College in Elsah, Illinois from 1958 to 1979, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 77–133–6.

Frank Koon
Biographical details
Born(1924-10-23)October 23, 1924
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 2006(2006-02-18) (aged 81)
Godfrey, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1947–1948Arkansas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1949–1951Harrison HS (AR)
1952–1954Arkansas State Teachers
1955–1957Principia School (MO)
1958–1979Principia
Basketball
1955–1958Principia School (MO)
Track and field
1949–1952Harrison HS (AR)
1955–1958Principia School (MO)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1958–?Principia
Head coaching record
Overall77–133–6 (college football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
9 Prairie (1959–1967)

Crafton was born on October 23, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where attended Little Rock Central High School. He earned an athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU), but was drafted into the United States Army after one year at the school.[1]

During World War II, Crafton served in Europe as an officer in the Army.[2] He played football at the University of Arkansas before graduating in January 1949 with a master's degree. Crafton began his coaching career later that year as football coach at Harrison High School in Harrison, Arkansas.[3] He coached football and track for three years at Harrison.[2] In 1952, Craft was hired as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers, succeeding Howard Montgomery.[4] After three years at Arkansas State Teachers, Crafton went to the Principia School in Missouri as football and basketball coach.[2] He also coached track and taught physical education at the Principia School. In 1958, Crafton was appointed men's athletic director and head football coach at Principia College.[5] He also coached golf and track at Principia College before retiring in 1981.[1]

Crafton died on February 18, 2006, at his home in Godfrey, Illinois. The Coach Crafton Athletic Center at Principia College was named in his honor.[1] Crafton was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[6]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Arkansas State Teachers Bears (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1952–1954)
1952 Arkansas State Teachers 1–8
1953 Arkansas State Teachers 4–6
1954 Arkansas State Teachers 1–9
Arkansas State Teachers: 6–23
Principia Indians (Prairie College Conference) (1958–1966)
1958 Principia 3–41–2
1959 Principia 4–3–11–0–1T–1st
1960 Principia 5–32–01st
1961 Principia 3–3–21–0–1T–1st
1962 Principia 4–42–01st
1963 Principia 6–2–12–01st
1964 Principia 6–32–01st
1965 Principia 5–31–1T–1st
1966 Principia 7–12–01st
1967 Principia 4–3–12–01st
Principia Indians (NCAA College Division / NCAA Division III independent) (1968–1973)
1968 Principia 7–2
1969 Principia 3–6
1970 Principia 2–6–1
1971 Principia 1–7
1972 Principia 3–6
1973 Principia 0–9
Principia Indians (Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1974–1978)
1974 Principia 2–71–35th
1975 Principia 1–90–45th
1976 Principia 2–61–3T–3rd
1977 Principia 2–61–3T–3rd
1978 Principia 0–90–45th
Principia: 71–110–6
Total:88–81–7
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[7]

References

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