2019 NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service | 2018-19 Jim Phelan NEC Coach of the Year
Saint Francis alumnus Rob Krimmel was named the 21st coach in program history on April 19, 2012. Krimmel, who enters his 13th season in the 2024-25 season, is the second winningest coach in program history with 155 total wins. The Red Flash has advanced to the NEC Championship Game three times in the last seven years and the NEC Semifinals seven times in his first 12 seasons at the helm.
Krimmel's teams have done just as much good on the court as it has off it as he was named the recipient of the 2019 NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service for his dedication to the sport. In addition, the Red Flash has won the NEC Sportsmanship Award eight times in the 16-year history of the award.
The talent in Loretto has continued to improve since Krimmel's tenure as has the focus on player development. Keith Braxton (2019), Isaiah Blackmon (2020) and Josh Cohen (2023) became the second, third and fourth players to earn the Northeast Conference's Player of the Year Award, and first since Mike Iuzzolino in 1990-91. Braxton and Blackmon were the first set of teammates to go back-to-back since LIU's tandem of Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere. Braxton finished his career as the program's first four-time All-NEC selection, a three-time first team All-NEC selection, and the first 2,000 point/1,000 rebound performer in NEC history, and the second in program history alongside Maurice Stokes.
SFU has developed five NEC All-Rookie selections, two NEC Rookies of the Year (Malik Harmon, 2014; Keith Braxton, 2017), three Most Improved Players (Earl Brown, 2013; Andre Wolford, 2018; Josh Cohen 2022), a Defensive Player of the Year (Josh Nebo, 2017) and 14 all-league recipients. Six of those were first team selections who combined for nine appearances on the top list (Earl Brown, Ronnie Drinnon, Jamaal King, Keith Braxton, Isaiah Blackmon, Josh Cohen) King and Braxton became the first teammates to earn first team honors in the same season in program history and landed on the NABC All-District 18 First Team in consecutive seasons. Blackmon and Braxton followed it up in 2020 with their first team nods, while Cohen earned the recognition in 2023.
Since Krimmel took over as head coach, 14 players have gone on to sign professional contracts: Earl Brown, Greg Brown, Ben Millaud-Meunier, Ronnie Drinnon, Georgios Angelou, Pat Wrencher, Deon Baker, Jamaal King, Andre Wolford, Isaiah Blackmon, Keith Braxton, Ramiir Dixon-Conover, Tyler Stewart and Marlon Hargis.
The 2018-19 Jim Phelan NEC Coach of the Year and NABC All-District 18 Coach of the Year, Krimmel led the Red Flash to 18 wins for the second consecutive season, the first time that happened since 1966-68. The Red Flash went 18-15 in 2018-19, winning its first regular-season crown since 1991. Saint Francis hosted FDU in the NEC Championship and made its first NIT appearance since 1958 after the loss to the Knights, going toe-to-toe with Indiana in Bloomington. The Red Flash also earned a spot in the CIT in 2015, 2017, and 2018, knocking off Jacksonville on the road in 2017.
In 2017-18, point guard Jamaal King became just the 40th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points. Teammate Keith Braxton, the 2016-17 ECAC and NEC Rookie of the Year and a 2017-18 Lou Henson All-American, reached it in 2018-19 as did Isaiah Blackmon. Earl Brown also reached 1,000 career points with Krimmel at the helm, finishing his career with 1,373 points (11th in school history). Josh Cohen was the latest 1,000-point scorer in program history in 2022-23. Cohen also became the first player since Maurice Stokes to put up two 40-point performances in one season in 2022-23.
Krimmel has experienced success in the NEC conference tournament as well. His nine NEC Tournament wins are most in program history. Before taking over in 2012-13, the Red Flash hadn't won an NEC Tournament game since 1995.
Krimmel led the Red Flash to its most successful season in a decade in 2014-15 as the Red Flash had its first winning regular season since 2004-05. The Red Flash finished 16-16 overall as it appeared in its second consecutive NEC Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history. The Flash also hosted its first postseason game since 1991 when SFU hosted Bowling Green in the CollegeInsiders.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) in March.
Before 2014-15, Saint Francis recorded sub-.500 records in nine straight seasons dating back to 2004-05. Since 2014-15, the Red Flash has recorded a .500 or better record in four of the last five seasons.
Part of the reason for Krimmel's success has been his ability to win in DeGol Arena. The Red Flash isb 87-61 under Krimmel, including 84-51 since his second season in Loretto, a winning percentage of .622.
December 2014 will go down as one of the most successful non-conference months in recent memory for the Red Flash and a huge turning point for the program. In a three-game stretch, Saint Francis defeated Albany, Duquesne and Rutgers. Albany was on its way to a 24-9 overall record and third straight America East Conference championship. The Flash earned its first win over Duquesne since 1990, snapping Duquesne's 11-game win streak in the series. It was also Saint Francis' first win at Duquesne since 1966, breaking a 16-game streak. Three days after the Duquesne victory, the Red Flash went to Rutgers and upset the Scarlet Knights, 73-68. The win was the first ever for a Northeast Conference school against a Big Ten opponent.
Academically, Scott Meredith was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-Region II Team in 2017-18 and 2019-20. Greg Brown was named the NEC Winter-Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2015-16, Georgios Angelou earned the award in 2016-17 and Keith Braxton captured it in 2018-19.
A tremendous three-point threat and a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection as a four-year Red Flash player, Krimmel 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, and is fifth on the school’s all-time list with a 39.8 percent three-point shooting accuracy.
In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Krimmel received numerous awards as a student leader. He was the first-ever recipient of the Dr. Philip Benham Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given to Saint Francis student-athletes who exhibit outstanding academic and athletic excellence. He attended the NCAA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., received a prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship and was the NEC Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2000. He also received the University’s Mr. Frankie Award, which is presented annually to the outstanding male student in the senior class.
The men's basketball program continues to be a strong presence in the community under Krimmel's direction. The team has been involved with a variety of groups and organizations on campus and in the community, including the Special Olympics and the NABC Stay in to Win Program. Through Team IMPACT, the team "signed" Jorden McClure during the 2013-14 season, and he continues to be a large part of the program.
Krimmel received his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and History with a Pre-Law Concentration from Saint Francis in 2000. He then earned his Masters of Education-Leadership from SFU in 2003.
Rob and his wife, Aileen, reside in Duncansville with their two sons, Alex and Thomas. Aileen also graduated from Saint Francis with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Masters in Physical Therapy. She works as a Physical Therapist at Drayer Physical Therapy Institute in Altoona.
Rob Krimmel File
| SAINT FRANCIS COACHING RECORD |
| Season |
Record |
NEC Record (Finish) |
Tournament |
| 2012-13 |
5-24 |
5-13 (T-10th) |
|
| 2013-14 |
10-21 |
7-9 (T-6th) |
NEC Semifinals |
| 2014-15 |
16-16 |
9-9 (5th) |
NEC Semifinals, CIT First Round |
| 2015-16 |
13-17 |
9-9 (T-6th) |
NEC Quarterfinals |
| 2016-17 |
17-17 |
11-7 (4th) |
NEC Championship, CIT Second Round |
| 2017-18 |
18-13 |
12-6 (3rd) |
NEC Quarterfinals, CIT First Round |
| 2018-19 |
18-15 |
12-6 (1st) |
NEC Championship (Loss), NIT First Round |
| 2019-20 |
22-10 |
13-5 (1st) |
NEC Championship (Loss) |
| 2020-21 |
6-16 |
5-13 (T -9th) |
|
| 2021-22 |
9-21 |
5-13 (6th) |
NEC Quarterfinals |
| 2022-23 |
13-17 |
9-7 (3rd) |
NEC Semifinals |
| 2023-24 |
8-22 |
3-11 (8th) |
NEC Quarterfinals |
| TOTALS (12 Years) |
155-210 |
100-108 |
|
Career Highlights
April 19, 2012 - Named 21st head coach in program history
November 9, 2012 - Made head coaching debut at Penn State
January 3, 2013 - Defeated CCSU 67-60 for first win as a head coach
March 5, 2014 - Defeated Bryant 55-54 in NEC Quarterfinals for first NEC Tournament win as head coach (first win for SFU in NEC Tournament since 1995)
December 20, 2014 - Defeated Rutgers 73-68 for first win vs Power 6 Conference team
December 19, 2015 - Coached his 100th game as a head coach at Albany
January 19, 2017 - Defeated Bryant 75-61 for 50th career win as head coach
March 14, 2017 - Defeated Jacksonville 78-76 in College Insider Tournament (first national postseason win since 1991-92)
January 5, 2019 - Coached his 200th game as a head coach at FDU
March 2, 2019 - Won the Northeast Conference Regular Season title
March 5, 2019 - Named the Jim Phelan NEC Coach of the Year
March 21, 2019 - Named NABC All-District 18 Coach of the Year
November 30, 2019 - Defeated Saint Joseph’s 79-68 for 100th career win as head coach
January 1, 2020 - Selected for 2019 NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Service Award
November 25, 2020 - Defeated Pittsburgh 80-70 for second win against a Power 6 Conference
February 17, 2022 - Coached his 300th game as a head coach against LIU (been on the SFU sideline for nearly 750 games to this point as a player or a coach)
November, 25, 2023 - Coached his 150th game at DeGol Arena as a head coach vs Niagara
November 29, 2023 - Defeated Lehigh 62-61 for 150th career win as a head coach
January 6, 2024 - Coached his 350th game as a head coach against Wagner (been on the SFU sideline for nearly 800 games to this point as a player or a coach)
January 21, 2024 - Coached his 200th NEC game as a head coach against Le Moyne
February 10, 2024 - Defeated Stonehill 72-63 for 100th NEC regular season win as head coach
