The date was Tuesday, July 24, 1979, and Gary Crowton sat in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his hometown of Provo, Utah.
He had just been cut from the Denver Broncos without making it to the first preseason game after signing as a free agent quarterback out of Colorado State University.
Despite his discouragement after what turned out to be the end of his playing career, Crowton made life-changing decisions that day — to go on a church mission at 21 years old.
“I was so disappointed. I thought [the Broncos] had made a mistake,” Crowton said. “But then, I knew I wanted to serve.”
And so it began. Crowton, who was older than the average missionary age of 19, was sent to Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 6, 1979, to preach the Mormon faith for two years. To this day, he said it enriched him educationally, patriotically and spiritually.
When he recounts stories of his two years living in a third-world country serving his Lord and others, Crowton is not the LSU offensive coordinator Tiger fans know.
Instead, he shows a deeper side known only to a few people.
Though he spent two months studying Korean all day before setting out for South Korea, Crowton said it was impossible for him to keep up initially because the natives spoke so fast.
“Any word I didn’t understand I wrote on my hand with a pen, and later I’d look it up in the dictionary,” he said. “The word I kept writing down at first was my own name. That was a good experience in communication, especially since I came to teach about our church.”
Crowton can still speak a trifle of Korean today. His Korean name is “Ku youn teh,” meaning “gentle like a bear” and “oldest noble son.”
To say it was eye-opening for him to preach in Korean homes decimated by war is an understatment. He often taught lessons in bomb shelters, “where I couldn’t even stand up,” and children suffered from a myriad of birth defects.
Upon returning home, Crowton said the experiences he gained from devoting everything he had to serving others were immeasurable. He and his wife Maren, who was also born and raised in Utah, set an example of their beliefs and good works for their seven children — Dane, 23; Tara, 20; Jenessa, 18; Quinn, 15; Mikauli, 13; Toriana, 9 and Macloud, 7.
The Crowton family attends church every Sunday. Maren is a teacher in Toriana and Macloud’s primary class, which is for the youngest children of Mormon faith.
The Crowtons have lived in Utah, Illinois, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Georgia, Oregon and Louisiana since Gary began coaching. The family lived in four states from 1987 to 1994 with four children under their wings.
“I could use the analogy from the movie ‘Parenthood’ where the grandma said to Steve Martin, ‘Some people like to watch the roller coaster, and other people like to get on and ride it.’ That’s what football is like — a roller coaster ride,” Crowton said.
Part of that roller coaster ride came when Gary was offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech in 1995 and head coach from 1996-1998. His career record with the Bulldogs was 21-13, and his offense in 1998 was No. 1 in passing and No. 2 in total offense behind future NFL quarterback Tim Rattay and wide receiver Troy Edwards. However, after four years in Ruston, the NFL’s Chicago Bears came calling for Gary to be their offensive coordinator.
“It was mixed [feelings to leave] because it wasn’t what we envisioned and what we were hoping,” Maren Crowton said. “In this business, it’s kind of a surreal life. They almost deify you, or else you’re the dog of dogs when you’re really just the same person doing the best you can.”
After two years in Chicago, Gary took a head coaching job at his alma mater, BYU, from 2001-2004. The Crowtons’ next stop, Oregon, was one the kids loved most.
Gary Crowton said he is so grateful his family has been so receptive to living in different cities across the country, experiencing new scenery and schools and making new friends.
“My wife has been really good that way, enjoying moving, and we’ve got a great family of kids,” he said. “They were kind of like army brat kids as a coach’s kid ... They’re very well-rounded and doing well, especially my three oldest, who have lived in all the places.”
Quinn is considering going on a mission like his father when he gets older. With a proud glint in his eye, he said he has heard how both rewarding and fun the experience of a mission can be.
Toriana, who was the most talkative of the group, told something she loved about her father with the biggest smile a 9-year-old could make.
“My dad’s fun,” Toriana said, beaming. “Sometimes I get in his room and sit in his bed and he plays Tickle Monster. He comes and grabs us and tickles us and won’t let us go.”
Gary Crowton’s offensive players at LSU are not as familiar with the reverent Mormon follower when he is off the field. But senior running back Charles Scott can see the family man in Crowton.
“He’s a cool guy, laid back and easy to get along with, probably one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet,” Scott said. “You never hear him curse.”
Freshman quarterback Russell Shepard called Crowton “a cool dude” and “the most patient dude you’ll ever meet.”
“Usually when you meet an offensive coordinator, they’re high-strung, and they want it done right here, right now, but not with Crowton,” Shepard said. “I thought something was wrong with him at first. I was like, ‘You all right? You sick?’ I’ve seen Crowton get his tooth knocked out in the spring, but he stayed relaxed and calm.”
Relaxed and calm. Educated and spiritual. Passionate and reverent. These traits are what set Gary Crowton apart from the average football coach. His family knows it, the LSU football team knows it and the South Koreans whose lives he touched some 30 years ago know it too.
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
Football: LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton’s Mormon mission shapes his life
Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 "Photo: photo courtesy of STEVE FRANZ / LSU Sports Information")
photo courtesy of STEVE FRANZ / LSU Sports Information
LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton throws a football during practice Feb. 26, 2007. Crowton is a Mormon by faith and took a mission trip to South Korea at age 21 years old. His previous coaching stops include Louisiana Tech and BYU as head coach and the NFL’s Chicago Bears as offensive coordinator.
26 comments
Crazy, huh? LSU is lucky to have this guy. Otherwise they would be as good as L Tech or Tulane.Go Cougars! (I aman Indiana native and BYU alum).
convert Bible believing Christians to Mormonism??