John F. Crea (born September 28, 1951) is an American former football coach and scout. He was the first head football coach for Methodist University Monarchs football team in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In three seasons, he compiled an overall record of 2âÂÂ28, including two 0âÂÂ10 seasons to start the new program. Crea was also the head coach at William Paterson University prior to Methodist and amassed a record of 31âÂÂ38âÂÂ1 from 1982 to 1988.
Crea played college football for Albany as an end. Upon graduating, he returned as the team's assistant junior varsity coach. From 1974 to 1976, while working on his master's degree, he assistant the freshmen team for Arizona State. In 1977, Crea rejoined his former offensive coordinator at Albany, Ray Murphy, as his assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at Kean. In 1980, he was hired as the offensive coordinator for Frostburg State. In 1981, he spent one season as the offensive backfield coach for Holy Cross before being named head coach for William Paterson.