AMERICA, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern State University Director of Athletics Mike Reeder announced that Jacob Crawford has been named head of the GSW women's soccer program. Crawford comes to Americus after serving as interim women's soccer head coach at the University of West Georgia for the 2023-24 season. There, he led the Wolves to a 6-5-2 Gulf South Conference record and an berth in the GSC Women's Soccer Tournament.
“We are very excited to add Jacob to our staff here at GSW,” said Rieder. “He has deep roots in women's soccer across the state of Georgia, and we look forward to watching him continue his upward trajectory in the Peach Belt Conference.”
Crawford becomes the eighth head coach in program history.
“I am humbled to learn that I was the preferred candidate for the position of Director of Women's Soccer Instruction at GSW,” Crawford said. “I look forward to seeing what this program can accomplish in the future. I would like to thank GSW AD Mike Reeder for giving me this opportunity and for seeing my potential to lead this program.”
Crawford also spent six seasons at South Georgia State University, winning 48 games and winning the program's first and second National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XVII championships in 2021 and 2022.
At South Georgia, Crawford led the Hawks to three consecutive regular season championships and the top seed in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Tournament. During this time, the team posted a record of 31-8-2 and earned the NJCAA Academic All-American Team Award for the second consecutive year. Under Coach Crawford's guidance, the program earned its first two NJCAA All-Americans in Aubrey Harrison (2021) and Makayla Robinson (2022). Robinson was named the 2022 GCAA Player of the Year. In the 2021 season, the team reached the highest ranking in the nation, 20th place. In the 2021 season, the Hawks ranked third in the nation in scoring average and save percentage, and in 2022 they ranked fourth. Additionally, Coach Crawford won the GCAA Coach of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons starting in 2020. From 2019 to 2022. He earned his Master's degree in Kinesiology from Southern University of Georgia, his USSF 'A' license and his Premier's Diploma in Coaching United's Soccer. Crawford worked for United Football Academy South Georgia for 10 years as a staff coach and program director. He also served on the coaching staff for Georgia's Olympic Development Program.