Muskingum University has hired Craig Holycross as Muskingum’s first-ever archery head coach.
Holycross is a certified USA Archery Level Two instructor and member of the Broken Arrow Archery Club in Newark. He is part of the Archery Shooter’s Association (ASA), International Bowhunting Organization (IBO), National Field Archery Association (NFAA), and USA Archery.
Craig Holycross is Muskingum University’s first-ever head coach for the new archery program. Holycross graduated from Muskingum in 2009.
Holycross has also served on the shooting staff of America’s Best Bowstrings, Black Eagle Arrows, Shrewd Archery, TRU Ball/AXCEL, Brian’s Custom Lens, MTN OPS, VaneTec, First Lite, Elevation, and Vance Outdoors.
Steve Brockelbank, Muskingum’s Vice President and Athletic Director, is thrilled to bring in Holycross to head the archery team.
“I’m excited to welcome Craig back to Muskingum to lead our archery program. Craig’s passion for archery and his experience in the sport will help build the program’s foundation. I look forward to archery flourishing under his leadership,” said Brockelbank.
Holycross is a 2009 graduate of Muskingum, and he is excited to return to New Concord to lead this group of student-athletes.
“It’s great to be home. I think it’s an exciting time for Muskingum and me. This place has meant a lot to me over the years, so when the opportunity to coach was presented, I couldn’t turn it down. My goal is to be a good mentor, a role model to my student-athletes, and help build a winning program. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back, and I’m going to be the best archery coach I can be,” said Holycross.
Holycross graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history and a minor in business. He was also a four-year letterman on the men’s soccer team, helping Muskingum reach the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament for the first time in program history in 2008.
Muskingum will be the only OAC institution with an archery team and one of the lone schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to offer archery as a varsity sport.
Archery gives student-athletes opportunities to participate in barebow, recurve, compound, and bowhunter divisions, either recreationally or competitively. The archery team will start as a club sport, becoming a varsity sport beginning in the fall of 2021.
