Mike Crowley was a highly decorated defenseman for the University of Minnesota from 1994 to 1997. He was a two-time AHCA West First-Team All-American and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1996, which is given to the top college hockey player in the nation. He was also named the WCHA Player of the Year in 1997. Crowley holds the two highest-scoring seasons by a defenseman in Gophers history, with 63 points in 1996 and 56 points in 1997. He finished his college career with 157 points in 125 games.

After his impressive collegiate career, Crowley was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993 and later traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played in 67 NHL games with the Ducks between 1997 and 2001, recording 20 points. He also played in the minor leagues with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL and the Long Beach Ice Dogs and Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL. Crowley retired from professional hockey in 2001.