Profile: Bob Crudgington

In 1993, Bob assumed the role of Head Coach for the Australian U-19 Women's Team, guiding them to a remarkable bronze medal at the 1995 Junior Women’s World Championship. Breaking new ground, Bob concurrently led the Australian Open Women’s Team, achieving the distinction of being the first coach in history to helm two Australian teams simultaneously. Under his leadership, the squad secured a silver medal at the 1996 World Championship, and achieving bronze medals at both the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Bob, transitioned to a role as the High Performance Manager of Diving Australia and the AIS Diving Program in 2001, playing a pivotal role in preparing athletes for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. In 2019, he further enhanced his coaching expertise by completing his coach developer training with the International Council of Coaching Excellence (ICCE) in Japan, earning qualifications as an International Coach Developer. Demonstrating a commitment to fostering excellence, Bob has collaborated with numerous sporting organisations on their coach development programs, including Softball Australia, Rowing Australia, the NRL, Rugby Australia, Tennis Australia, and Archery Australia. Continuously contributing to the field, Bob currently teaches post graduate coaching courses at the University of Queensland, where he imparts his knowledge in High Performance Management for Coaches and Elite Athlete Development.

As an inductee into the Softball Australia and ISF Hall of Fame's in 2006 and 2013 respectively, Bob's impact is undeniable, registering 293 games of experience with an impressive 72% winning percentage as an Australian Head Coach. Notably, under his guidance from 1994-2000, the Australian team never finished out of medal contention, consistently securing podium finishes across 34 international tournaments. Bob Crudgington's exceptional coaching pedigree and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable leader for our Elite Battery Coach Academy in 2024, ensuring a legacy of success and development in the realm of softball.