Larry Crowe enters his first season on the Samford staff. He will serve as the team's director of football operations.

Crowe comes to Samford after working on the staff at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for the past 12 seasons. Crowe spent the first eight years of his time at UAB as an assistant coach, and the last four seasons as the director of football operations.

"Coach Crowe brings a valuable amount of experience in coaching with him," Sullivan said. "He is a native of Birmingham and is well respected by all of the high school coaches in the area."

Crowe began working at UAB when it competed as a club team in 1989 and 1990, and stayed during its two Division III seasons in 1991 and 1992. He returned to the staff as an assistant coach in 1995 and stayed through the 2006 season.

Crowe worked as an assistant coach working with linebackers for the late Rollie Dotsch with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985.

Prior to his work with the Stallions, Crowe was an assistant coach at Hueytown High School in 1981 and 1982.

Crowe was an assistant coach at Jacksonville State University from 1976-80. At JSU, Crowe's assignments included working with the running backs and wide receivers. During his time at JSU, the Gamecocks reached the Division II national championship game twice. Also at JSU, Crowe was an assistant baseball coach under Rudy Abbott, helping lead the Gamecocks to two Division II World Series appearances.

Crowe earned his undergraduate degree from UAB in 1994. He is married to the former Joan Harbison. Crowe has two children, a son, Jason and a daughter, Madison.