The Muskingum University Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Craig Holycross '09 as Muskingum's first-ever Archery head coach.

Holycross, a certified USA Archery Level 2 instructor and member of the Broken Arrow Archery Club in Newark, Ohio, brings a wealth of archery knowledge and experience to Muskingum. He is a member of the Archery Shooter's Association (ASA), International Bowhunting Organization (IBO), National Field Archery Association (NFAA), and USA Archery. Furthermore, Holycross has served on the shooting staff of America's Best Bowstrings, Black Eagle Arrows, Shrewd Archery, T.R.U. Ball/AXCEL, Brian's Custom Lens, MTN OPS, VaneTec, First Lite, Elevation, and Vance Outdoors. 

"I'm excited to welcome Craig back to Muskingum to lead our archery program," said Muskingum Vice President and Athletic Director Steve Brockelbank. "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."

"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," said Holycross. "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."

Holycross previously worked as a home office facilities supervisor for Abercrombie & Fitch Co., where he oversaw the day-to-day maintenance operations and supervised and trained a team of technicians for five years.

Holycross graduated from Muskingum in 2009 with a B.A. in history and a minor in business. He was a four-year letterwinner on the men's soccer team and helped lead Muskingum to its first-ever Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament appearance in 2008. Holycross was also an active member of Habitat for Humanity and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Muskingum will be the only school in the Ohio Athletic Conference to field an archery team and one of the only NCAA schools in the state to offer archery as a varsity sport. Archery, which involves teams representing their institutions at USA Archery sanctioned events, offers recreational and competitive opportunities for barebow, recurve, compound, and bowhunter divisions. Muskingum will begin its archery team as a club sport and transition it to a varsity sport starting in the fall of 2021.