Q&A with Aaron Crispin: Kingsway Regional boys basketball HC
WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A Q&A with Aaron Crispin, who is the Kingsway Regional High School boys basketball head coach.
What is your background in this sport?
Aaron Crispin:聽I grew up in a family of basketball players and coaches. Started coaching youth camps and clinics while still in high school through my family鈥檚 local program (Crispin Basketball). Played at Glassboro high school. Was a volunteer assistant coach at Pitman High School for two seasons while in college (2015-16, 2016-17). Coached Freshman and JV level basketball at Kingsway from 2017-2018 and was promoted to Head Coach in the spring of 2019.
Name a person who inspired you to play/coach this sport.
Crispin: My grandfather, Cliff Crispin. He was a standout athlete from Woodstown in the late 1940s and went on to play college basketball and baseball at Temple. He coached several high school teams around South Jersey and eventually became the head boys basketball coach and athletic director at Camden County College. He used his position to help out as many people as he could, often providing intercity kids with an opportunity to play basketball and get an education, which many of them needed to escape their tough life situations. He was a tremendous role model to a lot of people and inspired me to use my abilities to help others and give kids an opportunity to learn and grow through the game of basketball.
What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Crispin: Focusing on the fundamentals- We try to establish routines in practice that create good habits in the players while on the court. Communicating verbally while on the court, being in the proper position, and understanding different ways to attack a defense are a few basic things that we try to touch on daily so our players are best equipped to succeed in games.
Please describe the most memorable games/tournaments/championships your team has won.聽
Crispin: In my first season as the head coach in 2019-20, we played Clearview at home in what is always one of the toughest games of the season. The game was closely contested, one team was never more than 5 points ahead at any time. Unfortunately for us, we fell behind by 4 points with less than 30 seconds left in the game. The coaches and I made some defensive adjustments to force 2 consecutive turnovers and the players were disciplined enough to score two baskets off of those turnovers. Arthur Stone (a Junior forward) got a great look at a layup and finished through contact, creating an 鈥淎nd-1鈥� opportunity where he converted the bonus free throw to put us up 1 and win the game. The crowd was electric and it was an incredible come from behind win that the players (even though they have all graduated) still remember.
Last season, we were down 25 points on the road vs Williamstown, another huge rival. What was uncharacteristic about this deficit was that we only had 18 points at halftime (The lowest halftime total of any high school team I鈥檝e coached). We were able to slowly claw back in the 3rd quarter with some defensive adjustments, but the real surge was started by junior guard, Colin Gill, who scored 12 straight points for us at the start of the 4th quarter. Our other junior guard, Jourden Keels scored an incredible layup with 1 second left in regulation to force overtime where Colin Gill continued a dominant close to the game (22pts in 4th quarter and OT). Colin made a 3 pointer to force the 2nd OT where we eventually outlasted Williamstown in one of the largest come-from-behind wins I鈥檝e ever seen in high school basketball.
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?聽
Crispin: If we lose a close game in the final seconds, I often try to focus on the entire game as a losing effort and not the final minutes. Mistakes we make in the 1st half can have a big impact on the outcome of the game. I emphasize momentum shifts and try to examine moments where we could have done one or two things differently to change the outcome of the game. At the end of it all though, I always mention how a loss hurts, but that it鈥檚 a chance to learn and that we can鈥檛 waste an opportunity to learn something from it. I try to use that to build momentum into a good practice the next day.
Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Crispin: Late in my first season, we dealt with some on and off-court distractions that damaged our team chemistry and focus as the season progressed. However, we played Seneca and Shawnee late in the season, two tough opponents. Both games were true team efforts that resulted in big wins for our guys and our program. Players stepped into new roles and as a team, we celebrated those wins more than the others that we had earlier in the season. Watching that group overcome distractions to win big games late in the season was incredibly rewarding.
What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?聽
Crispin: Hold yourself, your coaches, and your players accountable, especially early on in the season. Bad habits need to be eliminated as soon as they show themselves or they will grow into bigger issues as the season progresses. Similar to life, you get the most out of relationships as you put more effort into things. The payoff is always better after working for something.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?聽
Crispin: Going off of what I said about my grandfather and how he passed on a great example to my family (where many of us have already done great things with the game of basketball), I just want to continue that legacy with my unique chapter here at Kingsway. I want to develop lasting relationships with my coaches and players, to get the best out of them, teach them life lessons, and put them on the path to being hardworking, dependable young men. I also love the idea of sports being a way to bring a community together. I love the game of basketball and I know a lot of people in the Kingsway community do as well. I want to build this program and team to be a point of pride for this school and the towns we represent.
Please share a quote with a message of advice or support for the team.聽
Crispin: I have Dr. King鈥檚 quote 鈥淚f I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way鈥� in my classroom. I believe taking small steps each day will help us achieve the great things that we see down the road.
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