Men's Basketball | 8/25/2026 7:00:00 AM

Former Saint Francis University men's basketball head coach and alumnus Rob Krimmel recently learned that he will be inducted into the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame, adding another honor to an accomplished career as both a player and coach.

Two seasons ago, Krimmel led the Saint Francis men's basketball program on a memorable run capturing the 2025 NEC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. 

Before making his mark at Saint Francis, Krimmel was a standout athlete at State College Area High School. Graduating in 1996, he scored 1,698 career points, which ranks second all-time in school history. He also helped lead the Little Lions to the PIAA Elite Eight his senior year.

Krimmel continued his playing career in Loretto. He was a three-year starter and two-time team co-captain. He led the NEC in three-point field goal percentage (43.5) as a senior in 1999-2000.

His leadership and work ethic extended into the classroom. Krimmel was named NEC Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and became the first recipient of the Dr. Philip Benham Scholar-Athlete Award, which recognizes Saint Francis student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding academic and athletic excellence. He also received the University's Mr. Frankie Award, presented annually to the outstanding male student in the senior class.

After completing his four-year playing career, he joined the Saint Francis coaching staff as a graduate assistant before eventually being named head coach in 2012.

Over 13 seasons as head coach, Krimmel won 171 games and guided Saint Francis to four appearances in the NEC Championship. After winning the title in 2025, he retired from coaching.

Krimmel's impact extended beyond the win-loss record. Under his leadership, Saint Francis earned the NEC Sportsmanship Award eight times. In 2019 he received the 2019 NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service.

Krimmel will join 11 other athletes, coaches, and contributors who made an impact on their communities.

The Centre County Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate the Class of 2026 on Oct. 18 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, Pa.