Eric Crandall begins his seventh season with the Chargers in 2024, working primarily with the linebackers and special teams. In the six years Crandall has been at New Haven, the Chargers have amassed a 48-18 record, have won two Northeast-10 Conference Championships, including its first since 2012 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs four times, including advancing to the second round in 2018 and 2021.
In his time at New Haven, special teams has been an area of strength for the Chargers, most recently in the return game with a pair of All-American return specialists with Terrell Ford in 2022 and Dev Holmes in 2023, both earning the distinction from the American Football Coaches Association. Highlighting that pair was Ford in 2022 who finished the season No.1 in all of NCAA Division UU for kickoff return touchdowns with two. He was also second in the nation in kickoff returns averaging 33.9 yards per return. This past season, Holmes wrapped up his career also among the best in the nation as he was second in punt returns with an average of 17.5 yards per return, while also returning one for a touchdown.
Crandall arrived in New Haven after spending the 2016 season as the co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers coach at Western Connecticut State University. In addition to working with the linebackers, Crandall designed components of the defensive game plan and served as the academic coordinator for the Colonials.
Previous to arriving in Connecticut, he spent eight seasons in various roles at Buffalo State, beginning in 2008 as a defensive assistant. After transitioning to the linebackers coach for the 2010 season, Crandall also took over as the JV Defensive Coordinator for the 2012 season and spend the 2015 season as the JV Head Coach.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Crandall also coordinated all aspects of video acquisition, breakdown, distribution and presentation, while also serving as a key recruiter for the Bengals. He also had an opportunity to serve as the Defensive Coordinator for the Metrodome All-American Bowl in 2012.
During his time at Buffalo State, he helped develop seven All-Empire 8 players, including Marquis Artis who was a Third Team All-American and the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
A former linebacker at the University of Rochester, Crandall completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics at the University at Buffalo in 2007.
