Football | 1/16/2020 3:00:00 PM

Pacific University Head Football Coach Ian Falconer has announced the return of Jim Craft as the new offensive coordinator.

"The energy and wisdom Coach Craft gave during our early years allowed us to have success early and those efforts were instrumental in working towards a Northwest Conference title," said Falconer. "He is an elite recruiter, loves football and believes in developing and coaching young men the right way."
 
The hiring of Craft marks a return to Forest Grove, who alongside Falconer and Assistant Athletic Director/incoming Athletic Director Keith Buckley started the Boxer program in 2010. He was an initial hire along with Falconer as the three came together to help launch Pacific's first football team since 1991. The three combined to establish one of the top offenses in NCAA Division III. With an underclassmen-filled roster in 2011, the Boxer offense ranked third in the Northwest Conference and 23^rd in the nation with 282.3 yards passing per game. An arsenal of Boxer quarterbacks combined for a 134.63 pass efficiency rating that was third in the NWC and 65^th in the nation.
 
In addition to what his team did on the field, Craft was instrumental in the recruiting efforts that helped lead Pacific to a 2014 Northwest Conference title - its first since 1952. 

"I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to return to Pacific," said Craft. "I think Pacific is a special place, for a number of reasons, but the most important for me is the people. I've been fortunate in many of my years as a college football coach to have the opportunity coach engaged and intelligent young people. My time at Pacific taught me how much I enjoyed working with young people who value what the game of football brings to their college experience as much as they value the strength of a great education they are earning from Pacific."

He spent the last seven years as an assistant coach at Cal Poly, where for the last two years Craft served as the Mustangs' Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the last two years. At Cal Poly, they were a three-time leader in the NCAA FCS in rushing yardage and secured an at-large bid to the playoffs in 2015.
 
Throughout his career, he has been a student of the game where he has learned under legendary coaches Mouse Davis, Jerry Glanville and most recently, Tim Walsh.
 
Craft has also gained experience serving as an assistant coach at Portland State and Northwest Conference member, Lewis & Clark. While at Portland State, he ascended to the role as the Vikings' offensive coordinator while coaching the quarterbacks after spending time as an offensive line coach, wide receivers and tight ends coach.

At Portland State, the Vikings were twice the national leader in passing yardage and he helped recruit and coach seven players who signed NFL contracts.
 
He earned his bachelor's degree from Portland State in 1998 and a master's in 2003. He and his wife, Kelley are the proud parents of daughters, Kayla and Stella Marie and son, Tyler.