Aiming a soccer ball at a peach basket, James Naismith created the game of basketball for his gym class in 1891. Since then, the sport has developed a distinguishing identity, much like one the Auburn Tigers have achieved with the guidance of assistant coach Tim Craft. "(Craft) is a hard worker, always prepared, studies the game and loves the game," said head coach Jeff Lebo. "He's a young coach who has a long, bright career in his future."
During his third year on Lebo's staff and second year as an assistant coach, Craft continues to motivate players to work hard both on the court and in the classroom.
"The reason I'm in coaching is to have a positive influence on our players and watch them growing as young men," Craft said. "And I think trying to meet with them individually and talk to them about what's going on in their lives helps to form trust and strengthen relationships." Senior forward Johnnie Lett said he has learned more about the game by listening to Craft's instructions and advice.
"He says to just go hard, and to play through mistakes," Lett said,
Craft has years of previous coaching experience, he said, and was excited when Lebo recruited him as an assistant coach in 2007.
"I was coaching at Gardner-Webb University, a smaller Division 1 school in North Carolina, when I had the opportunity to come here and work for Coach Lebo." Craft said. "He's been a great boss, and I learn so much from him every day." The community and traditions of the University made it an easy decision for him to leave Gardner-Webb, Craft said.
"My wife and I love Auburn," Craft said. "It's a close-knit kind of family, and one thing I've loved about Auburn is that the school spirit is so strong, and people are so supportive of the University and athletics."
Growing up in the college town of Tallahassee, Fla., Craft discovered his love of basketball at a young age and looked for ways to continue his involvement in the sport as an adult.
"All the things about basketball interest me, from the practices to the time spent working on individual skills," Craft said. "The competitiveness, the strategies, the X's and O's part of it, all of those are reasons I became a coach after growing up playing the game in junior high and high school."
In his first season as an assistant coach, Craft helped the 2008-2009 Tigers to finish second overall in the SEC with a 10-6 record, according to the Auburn Athletics Web site. This season, the Tigers have lost a few games, but have nine more chances to finish with a strong record, Craft said.
"Right now, we're on the verge of being able to put together some conference wins, but we're just a hair away from doing it," Craft said. "We've lost four games in the second half, where we've been so close to putting it all together to get a huge win."
After beating Alabama by one point Saturday, the Tigers continue to show their determination to have a successful season.
"I think our team is one that is going to keep fighting and playing together," Craft said. "And if they continue to do that, they will continue to get better."
Craft said he appreciates the time and dedication the players give to Auburn's basketball program and looks forward to seeing results in the future.
"It's a lot of hours (of coaching)," Craft said. "But the great thing about it is that it's really enjoyable, and I'm really excited to come to work every day."
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