Ryan Crawford is in his second season working with Harvard's defensive backs.

Crawford is responsible for recruiting the Atlantic coast section of the United States, including Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

In Crawford's first season in Cambridge, three Harvard defensive backs earned All-Ivy League recognition. Among that group was Chris Splinter, who picked off five passes and tied for fifth nationally with 0.5 interceptions per game. The group helped the Crimson rank eighth nationally in scoring defense at 17.4 points allowed per game.

Crawford came to Harvard after spending four seasons at the University of Rhode Island. He served as the Rams’ defensive coordinator and also carried out a previous stint as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Over his final three seasons at URI, Crawford’s secondary intercepted 30 passes in the tough Colonial Athletic Association. Crawford has mentored a pair of all-conference defensive backs, including Jarrod Williams, who left URI in 2010 among the school’s all-time leaders in interceptions.

Prior to his tenure at URI, Crawford spent three years as a cornerbacks coach at Bucknell. In 2007, the Bison led the Patriot League with 14 interceptions.

Crawford also spent two years at his alma mater, Davidson. He spent one year coaching the quarterbacks before switching to defense in 2004 to coach the defensive backs.

A 2001 Davidson graduate with a degree in biology, Crawford earned Associated Press first team All-America honors in 1999, when he led the nation with eight interceptions as part of a Davidson team that topped the country with 28 picks. In 2000, Crawford was named the I-AA Mid-Major Defensive Back of the Year as well as the I-AA Independent Defensive MVP. In 2000, he was named Davidson's Special Teams Player of the Year as well as the school's Male Athlete of the Year.

Crawford was inducted into Davidson's Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, 2012 as part of the college's 23rd induction class. 

After graduation, Crawford played semipro football for the Carolina Cowboys and competed professionally with the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League. He was also a 2007 camp invitee with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and worked as a stuntman and featured extra in the movie "Radio," starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.