New Saxony coach looking to transfer success on the pitch to the court

Dr. Chris Crawford is no stranger to success in leading Saxony Lutheran High School student-athletes in their quests for achievement, so adding to his responsibilities with the Crusader kids made a lot of sense in the eyes of the school’s leaders.

Crawford, who has served as the head coach of both the highly-successful boy’s and girl’s soccer programs, as well as served as an assistant within both the boy’s and girl’s basketball programs, was recently named as the new head coach of the Crusaders’ girl’s basketball program.

“Sports is probably the greatest metaphor for life,” Crawford said of loving the vocation. “If you work hard, then good things happen.”

On the pitch, Crawford has led Saxony Lutheran boy’s to a pair of MSHSAA Class 2 District championships, and his team finished fourth in the state finals this past school year.

In leading the Crusader girl’s soccer program since 2018, his team finished third in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals this spring.

“Having been in the (girl’s basketball) program,” Crawford explained, “I have gotten to know some of the (athletes) who don’t play soccer.

“That helps because there is the familiarity. They know how I work, and they know my expectations.”

Crawford, who works as a chiropractor with Hudson Chiropractic in Cape Girardeau, coached the freshman boy’s basketball squad at Saxony Lutheran, before serving as the interim varsity head coach for a season.

Over the last two years, he has been on the bench as an assistant for the Crusaders, who won 22 games over that span. He said learning at the side (no pun intended) of veteran basketball coach and Crusader athletic director, Sam Sides, proved invaluable.

“He is arguably one of the best girl’s basketball coaches to ever coach in Southeast Missouri,” Crawford said. “Getting to watch his attention to detail from a basketball perspective, he has an incredible mind.

“He sees things before they happen, so he knows how to make those adjustments.”

From the 2012-13 season through 2019-20, the Crusader girl’s basketball program won eight consecutive District titles and advanced to the MSHSAA Class 3 State Finals twice (2014 and 2016).

“I am looking forward to the upcoming season to just see what we can do,” Crawford said in a release. “We are coming off a strong season and I had the pleasure of coaching several of these ladies at the junior varsity level. I am ready to see what we are going to be able to do this season.”

Saxony Lutheran Principal Mark Ruark couldn’t be more excited to keep Crawford within the Crusader athletic family for more seasons to come.

“We are excited to make this announcement and we are looking forward to welcoming Coach Crawford to his new role,” Ruark said in a release. “Coach Crawford has been a part of the Saxony family for many years and has served in many roles.

“We are very fortunate to have him take the helm of the women’s basketball program, as well as, both soccer programs. He is an integral part of Saxony Lutheran High School, and we are blessed to have him join the Saxony family.”