Victoria Crawford, a coach with long-term HBCU experience will lead the women’s basketball program at Fisk University. Learn more from the Fisk release below.
The Fisk University announced today their new coach for women’s basketball in former University of Memphis star Victoria Crawford. The Birmingham, Alabama native takes over a program that went 9-19 overall for the season. Crawford coached this past season at Lincoln (IL.) College, Lincoln announced that the school will cease operations after this semester.
“We are happy to welcome Coach Crawford to the Fisk family,” said Fisk Athletic Director Dr. Larry Glover.”She has an impressive resume. We look forward to her being an asset to the university.”
Crawford was a prolific scorer in high school leading the state of Alabama as a senior in scoring with a 27-point average per game earning her a scholarship to Memphis. As a senior at Memphis, she was named the Conference USA Sixth Player if the Year award in 2004. That year she also set the school’s single season steals record.
From 2005-10, Crawford played professionally overseas and was invited to several WNBA camps. After her playing days were over, Crawford spent five seasons at Miles (AL.) College as the associate head coach. She then went on Southern Mississippi University as an assistant in 2017 to 2018. In 2019, she returned to Birmingham and was named the head coach at Lawson State Community College. She then went on to lead Lincoln (IL.) College where last year her team went 7-17.
Crawford takes over a program that will have 11 returners. Rising junior Zipporah Davis (SO/Memphis, TN.) is the leading returning with an average of 11.3 points per game. Davis scored a career high 32 points in team’s first round tournament lose to Dillard University. Rising sophomore Laila Eliotti (FR/Jonesboro, AR. )’s 35 points at Oakwood University was a single game high for the team. Maya Allen, who will be a senior next year, was the only other returner to average in double figures with 10.5. The cupboard isn’t bare for Crawford. With the rich tradition of talent in the Nashville area, it shouldn’t be difficult to have a winning season soon.
“I would like to thank (Fisk President) Dr. Van Newkirk and Dr. Glover for entrusting me with the program here,” said Crawford. “The City of Nashville and the State of Tennessee is loaded with some amazing student athletes. My staff and I look forward to serving this community and competing at a high level on the court. I am ready to get to work and help build a winning tradition.”
