Kraft joined the Holy Family University baseball staff as the hitting and outfield coach in July 2024.
His extensive coaching experience at various levels has equipped him with the necessary skills to contribute to the team's success and performance by specializing in player development, recruitment, and program management.
Prior to his arrival at HFU, Kraft was an essential member of the coaching staff at Division II Saint Leo University from January 2023 to May 2024, where he used his catching experience to enhance player performance, coached first base, and worked closely with hitters and outfielders as the assistant hitting coach, outfield coach and facilities manager.
In 2024, Saint Leo went 38-13 record and achieved a top 10 ranking as it hosted the South Regional. The Lions were sixth nationally with 171 stolen bases and recorded a .289 team batting average, .399 on-base percentage and 39 home runs.
Kraft coached a total of eight All-Conference, four All-Region and one All-American during his two years, while one of his student-athletes was signed by the Kansas City Royals and another was drafted by the Miami Marlins.
From August 2021 to December 2022, he was the hitting coach, position coach and recruiting coordinator at Division II Savannah State University. The 2022 season saw the team achieve a 34-12 overall record, which included a 28-2 mark in conference play. The Tigers finished the season ranked inside the top 25 and had were top 17 in Division II in triples, stolen bases (135), batting average (.338) and win/loss percentage.
His recruiting efforts resulted in a total of seven All-Conference selections, including five on the First Team, highlighted by Player of the Year Joe Smith leading NCAA Division II with a .470 batting average.
Kraft began his collegiate coaching year a volunteer assistant at Division I JUCO Florida State College at Jacksonville from August 2019 to August 2021. The 2021 team enhanced its offensive metrics by compiling 53 extra-base hits, 12 home runs, and a .255 batting average, and the program would go on to qualify for the JUCO World Series the subsequent year.
He also has experience at both the minor league and high school level, serving as a clubhouse manager for the Daytona Tortugas (Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) during the summers of 2021 and 2022, as well as a varsity pitching coach and head JV coach at Manchester High School in New Jersey.
Kraft will complete his master's degree at Holy Family. He earned his bachelor's degree from Coker University and his Associate of Arts from Ocean County College, where he caught and was team captain at both institutions.
