VSU names Graham Craig new football leader
Published 12:28 pm Monday, January 20, 2025
By Valdosta State Athletics
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State Director of Athletics, Troy Katen, announced Monday current offensive coordinator Graham Craig as the twelfth head coach of the Blazer football team. There will be an official introductory press conference for Craig on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 10:30 a.m., in the Magnolia Room of the University Center.
“We are thrilled to announce Graham Craig as the new head coach of the Blazer football program,” Katen said. “Coach Craig is the perfect fit for what our program needs — a leader of high character and integrity, essential for providing long-term stability, sustaining our on-field success and driving progress in other areas.”
Craig returned to Titletown in the spring of 2024 as the offensive coordinator helping lead the team to the program’s 11th Gulf South Conference title and a NCAA Division II National runner-up finish this past December with a 13-1 record overall and a 6-0 mark in GSC play.
In 2024, Craig’s offense finished 11th nationally and tops in the GSC at 448.6 yards per game, while it was eighth nationally in scoring offense at 40.1 points per game which was best in the league. The Blazers led the nation turnovers lost for the season with just five.
“This past season, Coach Craig did an outstanding job leading our offense, achieving remarkable results while building strong relationships with our student-athletes,” Katen added. “As a former Blazer, he has a deep connection within our program and strong ties to many former players. He is committed to reconnecting with all of our football alumni, engaging with the Valdosta community, strengthening our bond across South Georgia and within our Blazer family.”
With two-time Harlon Hill finalist Sammy Edwards under center, the Blazers finished 23rd nationally and tops in the league in passing offense at 248.0 yards per game, while the team was 18th nationally and best in the league in rushing offense at 200.6 yards per contest. The team was second nationally in passes had intercepted with just two INTs allowed all season, while VSU was sixth nationally in first down offense (311) and sixth nationally in third down conversion at a .518 clip. Under Craig’s guidance, Edwards, along with offensive linemen Will Flowers, Jeremiah Mawali and Kenley-Mary Asse earned All-America honors in 2024.
“I am extremely honored to be named the Head Coach at Valdosta State,” Craig said. I want to thank President Dr. Richard Carvajal, Athletic Director Troy Katen and Blazer Nation for their faith in me to lead the Blazers. I am excited to put together a winning staff, get to work in recruiting and prepare our team for spring ball. My family and I love Valdosta and we can’t wait to continue being involved in the community.”
Craig spent the 2023 season as a senior offensive analyst/quarterbacks coach at Memphis. He helped guide the Tigers to a 10-3 record and a Liberty Bowl title. Memphis finished sixth nationally in scoring offense at 39.4 points per game, 14th in total offense (458.5 yards per game) and he coached quarterback Seth Henigan who finished seventh in the NCAA in total offense at 319.8 yards per contest.
Prior to Memphis, Craig spent four seasons at West Georgia and three as the offensive coordinator for the Wolves. In 2022, his unit led the nation in total offense at 507 yards per game and led NCAA Division II in first downs per game averaging 27 per contest. The offense was sixth in scoring (40 points per game), fifth in sacks allowed (just five sacks all season), third in passing offense (321 yards per game), seventh in tackles for loss allowed per game and 37th nationally in rushing offense at over 187 yards per game.
As the quarterbacks coach in 2021, Craig recruited and guided Harrison Frost to a single-season school record 3,618 passing yards and saw Frost be named a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, which is given annually to the top Division II player in the country. Frost also tied a single-season record with 25 touchdown’s under Craig’s tutelage in 2021.
In 2019, Craig helped All-GSC quarterback Willie Candler to close out his career by becoming the most prolific passer in the history of West Georgia football, finishing his career with 8,346 passing yards. In addition, he guided redshirt freshman Garrett Bass, who was able to step in for Candler after an injury against West Alabama. Bass pushed the Wolves ahead in that game to take the victory, then engineered a second-half comeback against Mississippi College in the following week.
Craig has put together a varied background. He spent one season as a grad assistant at Arizona State, and the 2017 season as an offensive analyst at Nevada, before joining the UWG staff in the summer of 2018.
His first stint at Valdosta State came as a player in 2012 after he transferred from Murray State. In 2012, Craig helped lead VSU to its third national title in football, playing nine games at quarterback as a sophomore, going 44 of 79 passing for 750 yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions. He then finished his playing career at LaGrange College where he had a prolific 2013 season as one of ten finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy which is Division III’s version of the Heisman Trophy. His 2012 National Champion football team was inducted into the VSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
The All-USA South Conference selection threw for 3,576 yards which set a school record at LaGrange. He also tossed 32 passing touchdowns that season and had a school record 62.2 completion percentage. His best game in 2013 was a 450-yard performance against Birmingham Southern.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., he attended Spain Park High School. Craig is married to the former Lauren Young and the couple has two daughters, Lennon (3) and Georgia (1).
