Hall of Fame
The following information was taken from the Hall of Fame program published at the time of induction. Some editing was required:
Not only one of the most successful but also one of the most respected coaches ever to work at Fredonia State, John Crawford brought the Blue Devils' men's swimming and diving team from 10th place to a SUNYAC title in four years. During the 1983-84 season, Fredonia State swimmers set 10 records en route to capturing the school's first-ever SUNYAC swim championship. The Blue Devils also won the 1988 title. From 1985-1988, Coach Crawford's dual meet record was an incredible 22-2. Two of his swimmers were named James Fulton Award winners by the State University of New York Athletic Conference. The 1985-86 team finished among the nation's Top 20 and produced four NCAA Division III All-Americas and six honorable mention All-Americas. Honored with Coach of the Year accolades at both the high school and collegiate level, Coach Crawford served three years as chairman of the SUNYAC swimming and diving competition and on six occasions served as the Western Region diving coach at the Empire State Games. A 1970 Fredonia State graduate with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education/Social Studies, Mr. Crawford returned to his alma mater for a master's in Education in 1985. He was a social studies teacher in the Lake Shore Central School in Angola, N.Y., at the time of his induction.
