Janell Crayton Joins Hampton U. Lady Pirates Coaching Staff

Coach Janell Crayton
Courtesy UNC Asheville Athletics

HAMPTON, Virginia – Janell Crayton, who previously served as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina Asheville, has been hired in the same capacity with the Hampton University women's basketball program.

"Coach Crayton is a tremendous addition to our staff," head coach David Six, entering his seventh season, said. "She's very organized, she can get out there and work with the kids and push the kids. We're glad to have her."

Crayton was on the UNC Asheville staff for three seasons, serving as recruiting coordinator on top of handling scouting and post player development. During this most recent season, Crayton saw senior forward Jeannie Buckner earn All-Academic honors from the Big South.

Buckner was second on the team in both rebounds and blocked shots this past season.

Prior to her tenure at UNC Asheville, Crayton was the Director of Basketball Operations for the College of William and Mary. Her duties with the Tribe program included film exchange, coordinating team travel, on-campus recruiting, team promotional activities, as well as other administrative responsibilities.

Crayton joined the William and Mary staff after working as an assistant coach at Colgate University in 2010-11. While with the Raiders, her duties included recruiting, player development, scouting, travel, and special event planning. On the court, Crayton helped develop the Colgate post players.

Prior to Colgate, she worked at Oberlin College, where she served as an assistant coach, interim head coach, and associate head coach during her three seasons. In these roles, Crayton's responsibilities included team travel, scouting, coordinating community service, film break down, recruiting, and player skill development. During her time at Oberlin, five players earned all-conference honors.

Before coaching at Oberlin, Crayton was an assistant coach at Oglethorpe University for a season.

In addition, Crayton was an AAU 15-and-under coach from March to May of 2007, and she boasts international experience that includes a teaching internship in Ghana – as well as playing and running youth camps with Basketball Travelers Inc. in Turkey.

Crayton was also a player-coach for Athletes in Action in the Czech Republic.

Crayton is a 2006 graduate of Davidson College, where she was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats. A two-year captain, Crayton was named First-Team All-Southern Conference and All- Tournament Team in 2006. In addition, Crayton was named to the North Carolina All-State Team in 2006.

Crayton was also a standout in the classroom, twice being named Academic All-Conference.

She is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), as well as the Black Coaches Association. In 2006, Crayton participated in the Nike "So You Wanna Be a Coach" program, and in 2010, she graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy.

For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION