Athletics

Derrick Crawford | Head Coach

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Coach Crawford is a graduate of class 2000 at Rock Hill High in Rock Hill, SC. Coach Crawford has had a great journey along the way with football and the Law Enforcement/Private Security field. Football has always been a great passion for Coach Crawford and he is very knowledgeable of the game because of the great coaching he received since he was little. His main focus is to ensure that young men take their education seriously because that will take them where they want to go.

After high school Crawford was accepted to Garden City College In Kansas. Due to personal reasons Crawford decided not to attend. Crawford returned back home where he started playing minor league football for the Tri-County Jaguars. Crawford was defensive MVP his first year! In 2001 the Jaguars won SAMFL Championship. Crawford played several more years with different minor league teams where he won another championship in 2004 with the Charlotte Power, and was voted defensive MVP again. In 2007 Crawford was able to play indoor league football where he suffered a gruesome ankle injury. Crawford ended his football career in 2012 with the Charlotte Cobras out of the National Public Safety League. Crawford coached LB’s for an area high school in Charlotte, NC in 2013 and coached several more years until helping to form the Ramah Juco Academy with Coach Rawlinson in 2016. Crawford lives in Rock Hill, SC where he’s married to his wonderful wife Katrina Crawford of twelve years and four wonderful children.

Coach Crawford and Bakari Rawlinson formed Ramah Juco Academy from the ground up, to give young men an opportunity to play football at the college level. They want to help young men live life and dream big! 2016 season would’ve been the team’s first official year, but due to a tragic bus accident, the team had to cancel the season on their way to the first game of the season. Though almost losing their lives in the bus accident, Mr. Rawlinson and Coach Crawford kept the dream alive. The accident has made them realize how short life can be.

Bakari Rawlinson | Program Director

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Director Rawlinson attended North Greenville College from 1994 to 1996, when a serious knee injury ended his football career. He worked with a successful minor league football team for 8 years. Soon afterwards, he was blessed to host workouts for semi-pro and professional programs. His passion to give of himself grew, so 2015 along with several others, they started a college football program, the Ramah Rams. Shortly after, he was inspired to participate in creating the first HBCU post grad/independent Junior College Football Conference, on the East Coast. Director Rawlinson resides in Rock Hill, SC, with his wife of twenty two years and they have three amazing children!

Lawrence Brewton | Defensive Coordinator

“The first time I played was for the CC Woodson Gamecocks and from there, I went on to playing middle school football,” stated Coach Lawrence. He played for Spartanburg High School in South Carolina, where they were undefeated and won 3 State Championships.  Once he graduated high school,  he went on to play college football for Benedict College in Columbia, SC and had the opportunity to play for a local Semi-Pro Team, in Columbia. Later, he began coaching middle & high school football.  Once he moved to Rock Hill, he started coaching Semi-Pro and Women’s Full Contact Football. He currently resides in Rock Hill, SC with his wife and one son. 

“I didn’t come this far to only come this far. I came this far so I can be strong enough to go further. If the journey wasn’t challenging, the destination wouldn’t be rewarding. It’s the challenge that makes the greatness.”  -Ray Lewis

Bryant Thorpe | Defensive Line Coach

Bryant Thorpe was born in Philadelphia, Pa., where he graduated from Chester Senior High School in 2006. There he played football and basketball, ran track and wrestled. He played football at Itawamba Community College for 1 year and at Valdosta State University in south GA for 2 years, where they won the 2007 National Championship. For the past 9 years, he has played and coached Semi-Pro Football in Rock Hill, York, Lancaster, and Charlotte areas.  

Jose White | Running Back Coach

Al Crawford | Wide Receiver Coach

Al Crawford is a native of Rock Hill SC and is a graduate of Northwestern high school. After high school, Al joined the US Army where he served seven years.  Al has been playing football since he was 9 years old.  He has played many positions including Defensive end, tight end and receiver. Al has also coached on different levels including pee wee up to semi-pro. While living in Cleveland Ohio, Al played and coached offence for the Cleveland Cardinals and the Cleveland Outlaws winning a championship with the Outlaws.

Al Crawford is currently a Captain and the Enforcement Division Commander at the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. He oversees the operations for the patrol, detectives and narcotics units. Al is married with three children and three grandchildren.