Twitter: @CoachCrassUALR

Ted Crass will begin his eighth consecutive year as part of the Little Rock basketball program in 2015-16 as Director of Player Development. Crass has served as a student manager, player, assistant coach and Director of Operations in his time with the Trojans.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to work with someone as passionate and respected as coach Beard,” Crass said. “I am very passionate about my hometown and alma mater. I want nothing more than to bring championships to Little Rock and I know coach Beard and our staff will do everything we can every day to make that a reality.”

Most recently, Crass was an assistant coach for the Trojans during the 2014-15 season. He assisted with all aspects of the program, including recruiting, evaluating, scouting and budget preparation. Crass spent the 2013-14 season as the program’s Director of Basketball operations following five years as a player and student manager for the Trojans.

Crass first joined the Trojans’ basketball staff as a student manager prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, serving three-plus years in that role before joining the roster midseason in 2011-12. He suited up as a player for the first time at Middle Tennessee on Feb. 11, 2012 and saw the first game action of his career against Florida International just five days later.

A native of Little Rock, Crass played two seasons at Little Rock Central HS under head coach Oliver Fitzpatrick, earning a letter as a sophomore. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in speech communications.