Craig Doty…Respected Coach, Who Respects The Game

EDITOR’S NOTE: I had the opportunity to watch Craig Doty coach during his time at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. Besides winning he is a also one of the best people you will ever know, as a member of the media he always took time to talk with us.

(12-24-23) Craig Doty is presently the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at D II Emporia State, he has also coached and won at the NAIA level and the NJCAA level.

But his impact is being appreciated around the US by his tweets on Twitter. He presently has over 47,000 followers. His tweets are appreciated by players and coaches….he sees the big picture.

The benefits of high school sports:

1. Sports teams are the front porch & brand of the school.

2. Athletics serve as the largest and most successful at-risk school program. Playing sports provides purpose, discipline, motivation & structure for those who may not get it at home.
— Craig Doty (@CoachDoty) December 24, 2023

In a similar way coaches should “agent” their players for jobs and opportunities after graduation, head coaches should represent their assistant coaches in the off-season.

This means helping part-time assistants move on to full-time positions, fighting for more pay for staff,…
— Craig Doty (@CoachDoty) December 23, 2023

Summer AAU/Club is great but there is something special about student-athletes competing against rival schools, in front of a crowd of community members, friends, and family, after attending classes all day, while playing alongside teammates who are their classmates.
— Craig Doty (@CoachDoty) November 13, 2023

Do your coaches, your parents, and your teachers hold you accountable to bring your best each day?

Ask yourself this.. Do you embrace and appreciate this? Or would you rather be surrounded by people who don’t care?

It would be easier for everyone to let things slide… to care…
— Craig Doty (@CoachDoty) September 11, 2023

Often you will see Coach Doty’s tweets being retweeted….he practices what he preaches…he’s a winner that does it the right way. So if you are a coach or a player (of any sport) you need to follow Coach Doty.

A look at Doty’s Career

Doty was introduced as the head men’s basketball coach at Emporia State University on April 27, 2018. In eleven seasons as a college head coach, Doty has won two NJCAA National Championships and one NAIA National Championship. Doty has a 240-114 head coaching record while his teams are 31-9 in post-season play.

In five seasons at Emporia State, Doty has coached 13 All-MIAA selections and Emporia State’s first All-American since 2003, Tray Buchanan. Doty’s team broke the school-record for MIAA wins in a season with 15 in 2021-22 and then matched the mark again in 2022-23 while breaking ESU’s NCAA program-record for wins with 23.

Known as a program-builder, in just five seasons Doty has improved the Emporia State program from an inherited 9-19 record (4-15 MIAA) to a 23-9 record (15-7 MIAA) in 2022-23. In each of the past three seasons, Doty’s teams have appeared in the national polls receiving votes for multiple weeks each season while being ranked in the top 25 for six weeks in 2022-23. Under Doty’s tutelage, the Hornets have defeated six nationally ranked opponents: