TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (December 2, 2020) - In preparation for a unique 2021 season, the Salt Lake Community College baseball team has made a strong hire to its coaching staff.

Recently, SLCC coach D.G. Nelson announced the hire of Jason Crawford to the SLCC baseball coaching staff as an assistant coach. Crawford, who is a longtime Wasatch Front baseball fixture thanks to his playing and coaching career, comes to the Bruins after a distinguished tenure at Cottonwood High School.

Nelson said Crawford's hire was an easy fit with the Bruins.

"Jason is someone I've had a long time friendship with and have tried several times to bring him back to SLCC," he said. "It's funny how things happen at the right time and how they work out. Jason accomplished a ton as a high school coach and I know he is driven to accomplish a lot here."

Crawford was most recently the baseball coach at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, which has risen to be one of the premiere prep baseball programs on the Wasatch Front. A former SLCC player in his own right, Crawford played as the Bruins won the 2002 Scenic West title in his lone season with Salt Lake. After finishing his collegiate career at Colorado Mesa, Crawford became the head coach at Cottonwood in 2010. He led the Colts to two UHSAA state titles and seven region titles in his tenure.
 
"I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with (Coach Nelson) and the great institution of Salt Lake Community College," said Crawford. "I look forward to our growth as a coaching staff and to the future of our program. I am excited to get moving."

While his all-around coaching abilities have been well documented, Nelson stated one of Crawford's greatest abilities comes in working with hitters.

"Jason is one of the smartest hitting coaches around, as well as possessing an amazing ability to connect with his players," he said. "He is very driven and direct, yet it's not hard to see how much he cares for each student-athlete."

The longtime SLCC head coach also was effusive in praising Crawford's ability to help the Bruins connect with local prep players and programs.

"Having been a high school coach locally, (Jason) knows what each high school coach deals with on a daily basis," he said. "Jason has also been known in the state as the top hitting guy around; that reputation will be a great asset to SLCC."