Maurice Crum Jr. Joins Football Staff
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:50 pmFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Maurice Crum Jr. Joins Mustang Football Staff
DALLAS (SMU) -- Head Coach Rhett Lashlee has announced the addition of Maurice Crum Jr. to the SMU Football staff. Crum will serve as the Mustangs' linebackers coach and run game coordinator.
Crum arrived on the Hilltop after one season at Ole Miss, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He helped the Rebels to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Ole Miss ranked 13th in the FBS and second in the SEC in fumbles recovered (12) and was 27th nationally and third in the league in sacks (2.69).
Prior to his time in Oxford, Crum spent five seasons at Western Kentucky, where he served as Defensive Coordinator in 2021. The Hilltopper defense held opponents to 21 points or less in seven of their last eight regular season games in 2021.
In 2020, Crum served as Co-Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach, helping the defense to national rankings of eighth in passing yards allowed (177.3), 28th in total yards allowed (348.7) and 41st in points allowed (25.3) per game.
A top-25 defense in 2019, WKU allowed only 20.1 points per game, ranking No. 22 in the FBS and setting the best mark in program history, and held opponents to a 29.7% third down conversion percentage, sixth nationally. The Hilltoppers ranked third in FBS with only 82 missed tackles all season long.
In 2018, Crum mentored linebacker Ben Holt who set WKU's FBS-era record for tackles per game (9.67) with 116 tackles in 12 games. He also served as Co-Special Teams Coordinator. In 2017, Crum helped Joel Iyiegbuniwe to All-Conference USA First-Team honors. He led the Hilltoppers in tackles with 116, the third-most in a single season in the FBS era, and tackles for loss with 11.5. The junior declared for the NFL Draft was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears.
Crum spent the 2016 season at Indiana State, where he coached corners and nickelbacks, and during the 2015 season he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.
In three seasons at Kansas, Crum started as a graduate assistant (2012), before being elevated to the assistant director of operations (2013) and eventually the director of high school relations (2014).
A four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame (2005-08), Crum appeared in 50 games, making 42 consecutive starts. He registered 306 tackles, including 23 TFLs and eight sacks. His 306 career tackles ranked 11th in program history. Crum served as a two-time team captain (2007 & 2008), making him one of only 17 players in school history to have accomplished the feat.
Following his collegiate career, Crum had a three-year stint in the UFL (2009-11).
Crum graduated in 2009 with a degree in Sociology and is married to the former Crysta Swayzer. The couple has three sons, Maurice III, Allen and Noah. Crum's father, Maurice Sr., was a consensus All-American at Miami in 1990.
Additional staffing updates will be announced in the coming weeks.
Maurice Crum Jr. Joins Mustang Football Staff
DALLAS (SMU) -- Head Coach Rhett Lashlee has announced the addition of Maurice Crum Jr. to the SMU Football staff. Crum will serve as the Mustangs' linebackers coach and run game coordinator.
Crum arrived on the Hilltop after one season at Ole Miss, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He helped the Rebels to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. Ole Miss ranked 13th in the FBS and second in the SEC in fumbles recovered (12) and was 27th nationally and third in the league in sacks (2.69).
Prior to his time in Oxford, Crum spent five seasons at Western Kentucky, where he served as Defensive Coordinator in 2021. The Hilltopper defense held opponents to 21 points or less in seven of their last eight regular season games in 2021.
In 2020, Crum served as Co-Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach, helping the defense to national rankings of eighth in passing yards allowed (177.3), 28th in total yards allowed (348.7) and 41st in points allowed (25.3) per game.
A top-25 defense in 2019, WKU allowed only 20.1 points per game, ranking No. 22 in the FBS and setting the best mark in program history, and held opponents to a 29.7% third down conversion percentage, sixth nationally. The Hilltoppers ranked third in FBS with only 82 missed tackles all season long.
In 2018, Crum mentored linebacker Ben Holt who set WKU's FBS-era record for tackles per game (9.67) with 116 tackles in 12 games. He also served as Co-Special Teams Coordinator. In 2017, Crum helped Joel Iyiegbuniwe to All-Conference USA First-Team honors. He led the Hilltoppers in tackles with 116, the third-most in a single season in the FBS era, and tackles for loss with 11.5. The junior declared for the NFL Draft was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears.
Crum spent the 2016 season at Indiana State, where he coached corners and nickelbacks, and during the 2015 season he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish to an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.
In three seasons at Kansas, Crum started as a graduate assistant (2012), before being elevated to the assistant director of operations (2013) and eventually the director of high school relations (2014).
A four-year letterwinner at Notre Dame (2005-08), Crum appeared in 50 games, making 42 consecutive starts. He registered 306 tackles, including 23 TFLs and eight sacks. His 306 career tackles ranked 11th in program history. Crum served as a two-time team captain (2007 & 2008), making him one of only 17 players in school history to have accomplished the feat.
Following his collegiate career, Crum had a three-year stint in the UFL (2009-11).
Crum graduated in 2009 with a degree in Sociology and is married to the former Crysta Swayzer. The couple has three sons, Maurice III, Allen and Noah. Crum's father, Maurice Sr., was a consensus All-American at Miami in 1990.
Additional staffing updates will be announced in the coming weeks.