Lake Forest College

Karl Crawford rejoined the Forester staff as defensive line coach in 2025. He had previously been the team's defensive ends coach for most of the 2021 season as part of the Soldiers to Sidelines internship program.

Lake Forest was 10-1 overall and, with a perfect 9-0 record in the Midwest Conference, captured the league title and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament for just the second time in program history. Defensive end Alex Bendler finished the season with 44 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, and was a First Team All-MWC selection.

Upon returning to Arizona, Crawford spent the rest of the 2021-22 academic year as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Arizona State University.

Crawford has spent 10 years as an assistant at the high school level in Arizona, most recently as the defensive line coach and director of football operations at Highland High School in Gilbert. He was also the offensive line coach at Hamilton High School in Chandler for two seasons (2022-23) and at American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek in 2020. He served as the defensive line coach at Arcadia High School in 2019 and directed the linemen on both sides of the ball at Chandler High School the previous five years. Chandler captured state titles with undefeated records in four of his five seasons at the school.

Crawford assisted in the strength and conditioning program, planned in-season and out-of-season workouts, and organized team video during his time as a high school coach.

In addition to coaching, Crawford served as a senior human resources supervisor in the United States Army (387th Military Police Battalion) for several years. He also spent six years as a human resource specialist, infantryman, with the 311th Sustainment Command, 376th AG Company.

Crawford's playing career includes three seasons and a pair of state titles at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona. He went on to earn Offensive Lineman of the Year in each of his three years playing for the Tempe Rams of the Arizona Football League.