Brandon Crum was named the 24th head baseball coach in Allegheny program history on August 28, 2017. He enters his ninth season at the helm of the Gators in the spring of 2026.
Crum leads the Gators with a commitment to personal development, competitive excellence, and a team-first culture. Growing up just minutes from Meadville, Crum’s deep roots in northwest Pennsylvania have shaped his leadership style and his dedication to building a program grounded in commitment, toughness, and accountability.
Crum first joined Allegheny’s staff as an assistant coach from 2010-16, where he was the recruiting coordinator, pitching coach, and third base coach. His impact and leadership led to his appointment as the 24th head coach in program history in August 2017. With his elevation came a renewed vision for the program – one built on work ethic, character, and the belief that baseball is a platform for developing young men of integrity. His teams reflect that vision: competitive, disciplined, and united by a culture in which every player has a role and every detail matters.
Between his tenure at Allegheny, the Saegertown native earned his first head-coaching position at Mercyhurst University North East during the 2017 season. In his lone year leading the Saints, the 2017 NJCAA Region III Coach of the Year guided the program to a regional championship and an appearance in the NJCAA District Tournament.
Since returning to the Gator dugout, Crum has emphasized a player-centered approach focused on skill development, academic achievement, and personal growth away from the field. Under his guidance, Allegheny’s competitive culture and commitment to success has provided a first-class student-athlete experience. His ability to develop strong leaders, derive consistency, and uphold high standards has prepared countless players for success during and after their collegiate careers.
Crum treats player development as a holistic process. Whether he’s developing game-ready fundamentals, sharpening their competitive mental approach, or helping a student-athlete navigate daily life at a rigorous institution, he brings a steady presence and unwavering belief in the individuals in his program.
Throughout his tenure, Crum has built a reputation for elevating player performance and maximizing individual potential. Under his leadership, numerous Gators have earned All-NCAC and All-PAC honors. His emphasis on fundamentals, competitive focus, and mental-game consistency has helped athletes thrive in two of Division III’s most respected conferences, reinforcing Allegheny’s standing as a destination for high-level development.
A standout example of Crum’s recruiting and developmental impact is left-handed pitcher Sean Kealey, a 2020 graduate who transformed from collegiate standout into a professional athlete. Kealey earned NCAC Pitcher of the Year honors before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals organization, where he went on to pitch several seasons in the minor leagues, reaching as high as Double-A. Another success story is infielder Brett Heckert ’22. After earning his Allegheny degree, Heckert transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, where he stepped into ACC competition and continued to excel, hitting .300 for the Panthers. Their trajectories from Allegheny standouts to high-level performers exemplify the long-term development and competitive readiness Crum’s program is designed to produce.
Crum’s recruiting acumen is equally evident in recent standout graduates Matt Jennings and Tyson Bryant-Dawson. Jennings grew into one of the program’s most valuable two-way contributors, embodying the competitiveness, toughness, and versatility Crum prioritizes. Bryant-Dawson elevated the program even further, emerging as an elite performer within the conference and earning all-Conference and all-Region attention for his advanced offensive skillset, defensive reliability, and game-changing presence. His immediate and sustained impact, paired with Jennings’s rise, highlights Crum’s consistent ability to identify elite talent nationwide and cultivate an environment in which top-tier recruits flourish in Meadville.
Crum has also made a transformative impact off the field at Allegheny through his leadership in program advancement and community engagement. He maintains an active presence across campus and consistently supports departmental initiatives aimed at elevating the student-athlete experience. Most notably, he spearheaded a major fundraising effort that generated more than $750,000 in support of Allegheny baseball, culminating in the renovation and renaming of the program’s home facility, now proudly known as Robert M. Garbark ’32 Field. His ability to unite alumni, families, and community partners behind a shared vision has modernized the ballpark, enriched the program, and created a lasting legacy that will benefit generations of Gators to come.
Before beginning his coaching career, Crum was a standout collegiate catcher at Gannon University, where he served as a two-year team captain. He earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) honors in 2010 and was recognized for his academic excellence with Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic distinction in 2008 and PSAC All-Academic honors in both 2009 and 2010. Crum ranks among Gannon’s all-time leaders in multiple categories, including career putouts (444) and hit-by-pitches (24).
Crum graduated from Gannon in 2010 with a bachelor's in Finance, before going on to earn a master's in Sports Administration from Lock Haven University. He and his wife, Ashley, have two children, Griffin and Zoe, and reside in their hometown of Saegertown.
Allegheny Career Coaching Highlights
2025
- PAC Championships Appearance
- One ABCA All-Region Selection: Tyson Bryant-Dawson (3rd)
- Six All-PAC Selections: Tyson Bryant-Dawson (1st), Matt Jennings (1st), Walker Cunningham (2nd), Tommy Landsnes (2nd), William Wolff (2nd), JD Robinson (HM)
2024
- PAC Championships Appearance
- One D3Baseball.com All-Region Selection: Tyson Bryant-Dawson (2nd)
- One ABCA All-Region Selection: Matt Jennings (2nd)
- One All-ECAC Selection: Tyson Bryant Dawson
- Seven All-PAC Selections: Tyson Bryant-Dawson (1st), Brady Nolin (1st), Matt Jennings (1st), Brent Herrmann (1st), JD Robinson (2nd), Mark Schweickert (HM), Dawson Thomas (HM)
2023
- Six All-PAC Honors: Tyson Bryant-Dawson (1st), Sullivan Schueltz (2nd), Ryan Dougherty (2nd), Brady Nolin (HM), Mark Schweickert (HM), Brent Herrmann (HM)
2022
- Received votes in national rankings
- D3baseball.com All-Region: Ben Kosbie (3rd)
- Four All-NCAC selections: Ben Kosbie (1st), Tyson Bryant-Dawson (2nd), Brett Heckert (HM), Bobby Kusinsky (HM)
2021
- Four All-NCAC East Honors: Luke Chutko, Tyler Hettich, Ryan Dougherty, Conor Deasey
2019
- Three All-NCAC Honors: Sean Kealey (1st), Austin Bristol (1st), Vincent Carone (HM)
- NCAC Pitcher of the Year: Sean Kealey
- NCACÂ Championship AppearanceÂ
- Two NCAC All-Tournament Team selections: Tommy Cannon, Austin Bristol
2018
- Two All-NCAC Honors: Tommy Cannon (HM), Sean Kealey (HM)
