John Crooks Named Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year

Thursday, May 2, 2002
Contact: Stan Cole

John Crooks Named Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – John Crooks, who directed Campbell University to its second-straight Atlantic Sun Conference championship and the program's sixth-consecutive NCAA Regional berth, has been named A-Sun Women's Golf Coach of the Year in voting by league head coaches.
The honor is the fifth from the Atlantic Sun for Crooks since Campbell joined the league in 1994 (then known as the Trans America Athletic Conference). He also was named Big South Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year twice. Crooks has been recognized four more times as league men's coach of the year since he assumed duties as Campbell's head men's coach in 1990-91 and took on the responsibilities of women's coach one year later.
"This is indeed an honor and a tribute to the hard work of six young ladies who have really stayed focused all year," said Crooks, who has guided Campbell's women to nine NCAA Regional appearances in the last 10 years and seven conference titles. "As far as being named Coach of the Year, the award ought to have (assistant coach) Kylie Pratt's name on it, the names of the Campbell University support staff on it and the names of the players on it. I'm honored."
In the 11 seasons since Crooks took over as head coach, Campbell's women have won 38 tournaments, including this year's A-Sun Championship and the last six Fighting Camel Classic events.
In 1993, Janet Wooten became the first Campbell women's golfer to qualify for the NCAA East Regional. The Lady Camels earned their first team bid in 1994 after winning five tournament titles, including the Big South Conference Championship. In 1997, Campbell finished fifth at the Regionals and earned its first-ever national championship bid. CU advanced farther in post-season play than any other team in Campbell's history and wrapped up the 1997-98 season as the 14^th-ranked squad in the nation in the championship tournament.
The women's team was also invited to play in the 1998,1999 and 2000 NCAA East Regionals. Sharon O'Neill finished 5^th at the 2000 event and qualified for the NCAA Championship. In 2001, Campbell earned the Trans America Athletic Conference automatic berth by winning the league crown. CU advanced to the 2002 NCAA West Regional by winning the A-Sun title.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and a Buies Creek resident, Crooks played collegiately at the University of Houston under legendary coach Dave Williams. He is a former United States Golf Association Junior Amateur Champion who competes regularly in major state and national amateur championships. He won the 2001 North and South Senior Amateur Championship by five strokes after carding a 73-72-71—216 at Pinehurst #8, #5 and #2 in consecutive rounds.

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