Shaka Smart has officially rounded out his Marquette men's basketball coaching staff for the upcoming season, and the Golden Eagles are bringing in some serious experience and grit.

On May 12, Marquette announced the hiring of Rodney Crawford as an assistant coach, joining Jeremy Ballard—who was brought on board in April—as the two new faces on Smart's bench. They step in to replace Nevada Smith, who took the head coaching job at Siena, and DeAndre Haynes from last season's staff.

Crawford arrives after a strong five-year stint at South Alabama, where he spent the last three seasons as associate head coach. Before that, he built a reputation at Cincinnati, Fordham, and Eastern Kentucky. A former Bearcat himself, Crawford played for Cincinnati from 2000 to 2002, giving him a deep understanding of the game at both the player and coach levels.

Head coach Shaka Smart couldn't hide his excitement about the addition. "Coach Rock brings incredible passion, toughness and basketball acumen to our program," Smart said in a statement. "Over his career, he's proven that he can help players elevate their games and consistently impact the defensive end with his presence and grit."

For Crawford, this is a homecoming of sorts to the high-major level, and he's ready to embrace the Golden Eagles' culture. "Joining Marquette is truly an honor," Crawford said. "I've always had tremendous respect for Coach Smart and the culture he has built. The energy, toughness, and connectedness of his teams have always stood out to me. The opportunity to be part of a program defined by strong values, passionate people, and a championship mindset is something I'm incredibly grateful for. I'm excited to be in Milwaukee and ready to get to work."

With the staff now fully assembled, Marquette fans have plenty of reason to be optimistic. Smart is building a team—both on the court and on the sideline—that's built on toughness, defense, and a relentless work ethic. As the Golden Eagles gear up for the season, this coaching lineup signals a clear commitment to competing at the highest level.