Billy Crocker

Head Coach Billy Crocker joins Eastern University with the charge of building a football program from the ground up. He brings a passion for developing young men and outstanding credentials as a coach. He comes to Eastern with 20 years of college coaching experience. He served the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Elon University where his defenses excelled at taking the ball.

Elon was among the national leaders in turnover margin as the Phoenix had nine interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. Elon held No. 22 Richmond to one first-half touchdown in a 20-7 victory and then allowed just 214 yards against a strong New Hampshire squad in a 24-10 win. No. 25 Rhode Island was held to only 44 rushing yards in the season finale, a 43-28 Elon victory that likely kept the Rams out of the FCS playoffs. In total, Crocker’s defense held four opponents to 155 passing yards or fewer.

He began his career coaching running backs at the University at Albany but spent most of his coaching career at Villanova University.

He began his Villanova career as a defensive line coach under Hall of Fame mentor Andy Talley. While he was in that role, the Wildcats won an FCS National Title in 2009. He gained promotion to special teams coordinator in 2001 and took over as defensive coordinator in 2012. In his four of his five seasons as defensive coordinator, the Wildcat defense ranked in the top two in the CAA and his 2016 defense gave up on ly 15 points per game and were ranked first in the FCS in total defense.

Before going to Elon, he spent two seasons as a defensive coordinator in the FBS at the University of Connecticut.

Crocker and his wife Kristi are thrilled to move their family back to the main line and are looking forward to the challenge of building a new program. They have three children -- a son Ryan and twins Will and Bryn.