Twenty-five years of coaching experience accompanies Doug Kraft into his second season in Loretto in 2009-10. Prior to joining Don Friday at Saint Francis, Kraft spent the previous seven seasons as Associate Head Coach at DeSales University in Allentown, where he helped guide the Bulldogs to an overall record of 142-54.

As part of his duties under Friday, Kraft oversees the development of the Red Flash post players. In his first season as a Red Flash mentor, he helped guide center Mislav Jukic to a breakout season. Jukic entered his junior campaign with career averages of 2.1 ppg and 1.1 rpg. However, Kraft molded the Croatian native into a threat in the post. Jukic was second on the team with 10.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg in 2008-09, and led the team with 21 blocks.

At DeSales, Kraft helped center Phil Stricker develop into the 2008 Freedom Conference Player-of-the-Year. Stricker, a three-time first team all-conference player, was named a third team State Farm/NABC All-American center. Kraft worked with five other Bulldog front court players that received all-conference recognition.

Kraft’s credentials are extensive and impressive. After starting as an assistant coach at his high school alma mater, Conestoga Valley, from 1982-84, he has served in the role of assistant coach, assistant athletic director, recruiting coordinator, and head coach during his career. His latest challenge brings him to the Division I level, where he hopes to repeat his past successes.

At DeSales, he served in the dual role of Coordinator of Athletic Recruiting and Associate Head Coach. He was involved in all facets of the Bulldogs’ successful NCAA Division III program. In addition to the team’s .725 winning percentage during his tenure, Kraft helped DeSales to five seasons of 20-or-more wins, three regular season conference titles, four conference championship game appearances and one ECAC South Region championship.

He was part of a coaching staff that received the Coach-of-the-Year award in 2003, 2004 and 2008. Kraft concluded his final season at DeSales with a 21-6 record, while the team averaged 72.8 points per game, and surrendered just 62.9 ppg.

Prior to his arrival in Allentown, Kraft spent three seasons as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and an Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation from 1998-2001 at Marywood University in Scranton. He took over a struggling Division III men’s program and helped guide them to the most wins in school history and to its first two playoff appearances in program history. He was named the 2000 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach-of-the-Year for his efforts. As Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation, Kraft carried out duties as the athletic department’s Recruiting Coordinator, Academic Support Coordinator, and Summer Camp Coordinator. In 2000, Kraft was recognized by the city of Scranton by being presented a key to the city for his contributions to the game of basketball in the area.

The road to Marywood and DeSales was paved through Kraft’s hard work and determination as a Volunteer Graduate Assistant Coach at East Stroudsburg University. He entered the position as a volunteer in 1994 when he coordinated film exchange and study hall programs, assisted in recruiting, scouting, and game and practice preparation. He was elevated to Graduate Assistant Coach in 1995, and served as Interim Head Coach from April 1996 until October 1996. In the interim, he served as the lone coach in overseeing the men’s basketball program during a head coaching transition.

Kraft’s dedication and work ethic earned him a full-time Assistant Men’s Basketball Coaching position for the Warriors beginning in the fall of 1996. His responsibilities involved all aspects of the Division II program. In 1997-98, the team finished second in the PSAC East when it made a nine-win improvement from the previous season. He again was part of a staff that received Coach-of-the-Year accolades that season.

Before his four-year tenure at East Stroudsburg, Kraft was Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Stevens State School of Technology in Lancaster, Pa., where he again worked as the program’s only coach in revitalizing the basketball program. The squad went 26-14 over two seasons with his team’s averaging 95.4 points per game during that time. He handled all facets of coaching, including recruiting, scheduling, budget, transportation, practice and game preparation.

His career began at Conestoga Valley, where Kraft spent his first seven seasons as coach of the seventh and eight grade teams, while also serving as Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach for the high school team. He spent his final season as the junior varsity coach in his dual role. The program won one Lancaster-Lebanon League title, one L-L League Section One title, and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA Eastern Finals in 1987 during his stay.

In addition to his high school and collegiate coaching experience, Kraft has worked with some of the nation’s elite prospects in 11 summers at Duke University’s Basketball Camp, as well as 13 summers at the Eastern Invitational Basketball Clinic and nine summers at the Eastern Invitational Position Camp. He has also worked camps the following camps: Pocono Invitational, George Lehmann, Metro Index, Philadelphia 76ers and Millersville University.

Kraft received his Bachelor of Science in Education-Spanish from Millersville University in 1989, and later received his Masters of Education in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University in 1996.