J.J. Crew was promoted to assistant coach in June of 2020 and was formerly the Director of Player Development from 2017-2020.
In five seasons, Crew has helped WMU to 114 wins, one National Championship (2025) and four NCAA Tournament appearances. He has also seen five players earn All-American honors, while the Broncos have had 14 All-NCHC selections over the last five seasons.
Crew played a key role in helping the program claim its first ever National Championship in 2024-25, as the Broncos defeated Boston University 6-2 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. on April 12. WMU won a program-best and NCAA leading 34 games and had four All-NCHC honorees. Along with that, Alex Bump was named a First Team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
Under Crew's guidance, Western Michigan continued to produce great numbers in all areas of the game. The Brown and Gold led the nation in goals per game (3.98), scoring margin (+1.93) and winning percentage (.821). The Broncos were also top 10 in the nation in penalty kill percentage, power-play percentage, scoring defense and faceoff win percentage.
Thanks to Crew's help, Tim Washe led the NCAA and NCHC in faceoff winning percentage in 2024-25. It was Washe's third straight season leading the conference in faceoff winning percentage. Along with that, Crew helped WMU produce one of the best penalty kill units in the nation. Western Michigan killed off 42 consecutive penalties from Nov. 22 to Feb. 14.
The Broncos were ranked No. 1 in the final poll of the season, receiving every first-place vote available. It marked the second time in program history that the Brown and Gold reached No. 1 in the polls, with the other happening earlier in the 2024-25 campaign.
During the 2023-24 season, Crew helped the Broncos to a third straight NCAA Tournament, which had never been done in program history. Along with that, WMU had its third straight 20-plus win season, including an undefeated non-conference record. Thanks to his guidance, Western Michigan finished ninth in the nation in goals per game and had eight players sign professional contracts.
In 2022-23, he was instrumental in the Broncos’ second-place NCHC finish. It marked the highest finish in program history. In total, the team won 23 games and made another NCAA Tournament appearance. WMU was No. 5 in the nation in goals per game, and Crew oversaw the development of the nation’s leading goal scorer, Jason Polin.
Polin went on to be named a Second Team All-American, while becoming a Hobey Baker Finalist. Six players signed pro contracts after the 2022-23 season.
His second year as an assistant coach (2021-22) was a memorable one, as the Brown and Gold won 26 games and made another NCAA Tournament appearance. It was the most wins in a season since the 1995-96 campaign. The team also collected its first NCAA Tournament win in program history with a 2-1 overtime victory over Northeastern.
The Broncos had two All-American selections in Ronnie Attard and Ethen Frank to go along with four All-NCHC performers. Seven players signed pro contracts following the season.
In his first year as an assistant coach with the team, the Broncos had a shortened season due to COVID-19. In total, the program won 10 games and had Attard named a First Team All-American. Attard and Frank were All-NCHC selections as well.
Before starting at WMU, Crew spent time as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio University, helping the team finish ranked No. 2 in ACHA Division I. Prior to his time at Ohio, he was the head coach of the Colorado Rampage Junior A team, and was also an assistant coach for two seasons with the Hampton Road Whalers of the USPHL Elite league.
Crew played for four seasons at Western Michigan from 2008-12, playing under head coaches Jim Culhane, Jeff Blashill and Andy Murray. He played in 133 career games, scoring 20 goals and dishing out 35 assists for 55 points. During his senior season, he played a big part in WMU’s Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament Championship.
Crew holds a Masters in Sports Science and Recreation with an emphasis on coaching education from Ohio University (2017) and received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from WMU (2012).
