Kip Erik Crofts, 59, was taken into custody by the Nampa Police Department and is currently being held on charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor.
Kip Erik Crofts, 59, was taken into custody by the Nampa Police Department and is currently being held on charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor.
A longtime Idaho high school football coach with more than three decades of experience was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual abuse of a child under 16, according to local reports.
Kip Erik Crofts, 59, was taken into custody by the Nampa Police Department and is currently being held on charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor. Crofts had been coaching at Caldwell High School since 2023, according to a Facebook post from the Caldwell School District that welcomed him to the program.
Crofts built a notable coaching career spanning 32 years across multiple Idaho high schools, including several championship-winning programs:
Meridian High School (2007-2012): Crofts led the Warriors to their most successful period, capturing a 5A state championship in 2007 with a perfect 12-0 record. This marked Meridian’s second state title in three years. However, the program struggled in his later years, finishing 1-8 in his final season before he resigned in December 2012.
Bishop Kelly High School (2013-2015): After leaving Meridian, Crofts served as junior varsity defensive coordinator at Bishop Kelly, where he was part of the coaching staff during the Knights’ historic run of three consecutive 4A state championships from 2013-2015.
Payette High School (2016-2021): Crofts took over a struggling Payette program that had endured decades of futility, including an infamous 80-game losing streak that ended in 1992. Under his leadership, the Pirates showed gradual improvement, achieving their first Snake River Valley Conference victory since 2014 during the 2020 season. Despite the challenges, Crofts called a key victory that season one of his “top-five moments in 32 years of coaching.”
Caldwell High School (2023-present): Crofts joined the Caldwell program in 2023, according to district social media posts welcoming him to the school.
As of Wednesday evening, Crofts remained listed on Caldwell High School’s staff directory, though it’s unclear whether he is currently serving as the team’s head coach. The Caldwell School District has not yet responded to requests for clarification about his employment status.
Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media suggest Crofts may have been placed on administrative leave from Caldwell High School prior to his arrest due to alleged inappropriate behavior within the school, though these claims have not been officially verified by school district officials.
The Nampa Police Department has not released additional details about the investigation or the specific circumstances surrounding the charges. This remains a developing story as authorities continue their investigation.
The arrest represents a stunning fall for a coach who had been a fixture in Idaho high school football for more than three decades, working with student-athletes across multiple school districts in the Treasure Valley region.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
