KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University’s director of athletics, Gary McIntosh, announced the hiring of Ken Crawford as the new head coach of the women’s basketball program at the Kirkland school.

“We are very excited to bring a person like Ken Crawford to Northwest University and lead our women’s basketball program,” said Gary McIntosh. “His credentials speak for themselves and Ken will be a terrific fit for the university. Add in his experience with the NAIA, Ken will bring a solid core of experience for our athletes both on and off the court.”

Crawford brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the Eagles women’s program as a high school and collegiate coach. Ken began his coaching career at Davenport High School in Eastern Washington in 1975 as the head coach of the girls’ basketball team. He also assisted with the football and tennis teams at DHS. He then moved on to R.A. Long High School in Longview, Wash., in 1976 where he coached three sports: basketball, baseball and football.

In 1979, Crawford was hired as the head boys’ basketball coach at Bellingham High School where he also taught social studies. At Bellingham HS, his teams won four Northwest AA League championships (1982, ’83, ’86, ’88).He guided BHS to 11 consecutive WIAA district playoffs and went on to play in the regional and state playoffs for 8 of 11 seasons. His teams made five appearances in the state tournament earning a 4th place trophy in 1983, 5th place in 1988 and 9th place in 1985, ‘86’ and ’89. After the 1983 season, Crawford was named the Bellingham Herald, the Skagit Valley Herald and the WBCA District 1 coach of the year. In his 11 years at BHS, Crawford put together a 180-70 record.

Whatcom Community College hired Crawford in 1996 to start the men’s basketball program where he remained until 2000. While also serving part time as the Assistant Superintendent of the Lynden School District his teams compiled a 39-63.

He returned to Bellingham High School in 2000 winning two more Northwest AA League titles in 2003 and 2004 while guiding the team to the district playoffs four straight years (2002-2005). In 2003 the BHS team placed 4th in the WIAA 3A State Tournament and 5th in the tourney in 2004. Crawford was named Northwest League Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and had a 59-36 record in his second stint at the school.

Between 2005 and 2011, Coach Crawford served as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at Biola University in Southern California while also serving as associate athletic director. He had three consecutive 20 plus win seasons (2008-11) and made three straight trips to the NAIA Division I National Championships (2008-11). Three straight years found his teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25 national poll and finished #9 in the final NAIA poll in 2010-11. His teams were 94-91 in 6 seasons, 65-31 in the final three years. 13 of his players were recognized as NAIA scholar athletes and coached three NAIA All-Americans. Ken is the second winningest coach in Biola women’s basketball history.

Prior to arriving at Northwest University, Crawford returned to Bellingham High School for his third stint (2011-2013) a head boys’ basketball coach. This past season, his team compiled an 11-10 record, the first winning season at the school in 6 years.

Ken is a graduate of Whitworth College where he earned his B.A. degree and Washington State teaching certificate.