BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell University Athletics Director Hannah Bazemore announced that Hall of Fame Coach John Crooks has been named Director of Golf/Head Women's Coach, while longtime assistant Matt Moot has been promoted to Head Men's Golf Coach.  In addition, Valeria Patino has been elevated to Associate Head Women's Golf Coach.
 
"Coach Crooks is an institution in collegiate golf, an even better person, and we are so lucky to have him continue to lead our golf programs," said Bazemore.  "His leadership, dedication to our student-athletes and Campbell University, and wealth of knowledge are all invaluable. Coach Crooks has also developed incredible coaches, including Matt Moot and Valeria Patino, and I can't wait to see them, and our great golf programs continue to grow."
 
Crooks' aim is to further improve the skills of Campbell student-athletes, drawing on a lifetime of golf experience, including 35 years of coaching at the collegiate level.
 
"The two golf teams at Campbell are in an exciting position entering our new school year," said Crooks, who was hired as head men's coach in 1990 then added women's duties one year later.  "While I expect to assist both teams, I want to focus on our players' development.  My goal has been to help our players improve daily.  I believe this change in our staff's responsibilities provides both the men's and the women's team with the best opportunity to compete for the CAA conference championships.  I want to thank our Athletics Director, Hannah Bazemore and her staff for sharing and supporting this vision."
 
Moot enters his eighth season on the Fighting Camel staff and was named Associate Head Men's Golf coach in August 2023.  During his time on staff, Campbell has earned five NCAA post-season trips, won 12 tournament titles and three conference crowns.  Moot played under Crooks from 2007-11, helped lead the Camels to a league title while competing in a pair of NCAA Regional Championships.
 
"We are so happy to announce Coach Moot as our head men's golf coach," said Bazemore.  "This is a well-deserved position for someone who knows this program, university, and area inside and out. He has learned from the best and coached some of our top men's golf student-athletes ever. Coach Moot is ready for this opportunity and will do an amazing job as our head coach."
 
After joining the Campbell staff in August 2024, Patino helped guide the Camels to a No. 51 national ranking, and an at-large berth in the NCAA Lubbock Regional.  In addition, she helped lead Campbell to a win at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, plus runner-up finishes at the Tiger Classic, The Southern, Mercedes Benz Intercollegiate and City of Oaks Collegiate.
 
"Coach Patino has only been at Campbell for a short time, but her impact is undeniable," said Bazemore.  "She is one of the best young coaches in the country, and she is a perfect fit to assist Coach Crooks as our associate head coach."
 
The 2025-26 season marks Crooks' 36th year on the Campbell Golf staff and first as Director of Golf.  He has served as head women's coach since 1991 and was the head men's coach for 35 years from 1990-2025.
 
One of the top collegiate golf coaches in the country, the Winston-Salem, N.C., native was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2006.  He was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame in January 2025.
 
Crooks is the third longest tenured active Division I women's head coach.  Before he handed off the men's head coaching responsibilities to Moot, Crooks' tenure was the fifth-longest among active D1 men's head coaches.
 
No one who has coached both men's and women's golf at the Division I level has won more combined tournaments than Crooks.  His 100 women's coaching victories stand second all-time, while he stands 10th on the all-time men's Division I tournament coaching wins list with 62.
 
Under Crooks' guidance, Campbell's men or women have reached NCAA postseason play 16-consecutive times.  The Campbell women competed in the 2025 NCAA Lubbock (Texas) Regional, while Henric Bjelke was an individual competitor in the 2025 NCAA Amherst (Va.) Regional.
 
Over the last 35 years, Crooks has led the women's team to 19 conference titles and 26 NCAA Regional appearances.  His women's teams have advanced to regional play 23 times in the last 27 chances, including 12 of the last 13. 
 
His women have won seven of their last nine conference titles and the men have won three times since 2017 (2017, 2019, 2021) and finished as runner-up twice (2018, 2020).
 
A native of Johnstown, Pa., Moot served as assistant coach at his alma mater from 2017-21 before re-joining the program in August 2022.
 
"Matt has made our men's program better in every way possible," said Crooks, who joined the Campbell staff in the summer of 1990.  "Starting with his outstanding career as a player, Matt has demonstrated his love for Campbell University.  Matt is a man of the highest character.  His energy, his vision for our team's future, his excellent recruiting, his day-to-day interaction with our players, and his strong relationships with alumni have positioned Matt to become the face of the men's team."
 
Moot has helped develop the 2017, 2019 (Jesper Svensson), 2018 (Ray Kraivixien) and 2021 (Pontus Nyholm) Big South Conference golfers of the year as well as four-straight league rookies of the year in Henric Bjelke (2022), Tim Holmberg (2023), Erik Johansson (CAA 2024) and Benjamin Killingstad (CAA 2025).
 
"Since 2007, I have been fortunate to be a part of Campbell University as a recruit, student, player, assistant coach, and now, head coach," said Moot.  "Since the beginning, I have felt an incredible sense of support and love from this university and community I proudly call 'home.'  Today is truly a dream come true.
 
"The opportunity to lead a program involves many people to whom I am truly grateful," said Moot.  "My head coach, John Crooks, has had a tremendous influence on my life, making me a better player, person, and coach. He has repeatedly opened doors and provided paths for me to achieve success, and I look forward to continuing to learn from him in this elevated role. Our Athletics Director, Hannah Bazemore, among several others in the department and administration, consistently show a commitment to success in providing the best experience for our student-athletes.  I'm fully dedicated to serving my players and University in their mission as a head coach. "
 
Eight Camels that Moot has coached have gone on to play professionally on circuits sanctioned by the PGA and European tours – Gaston Bertinotti, Craig Hornberger, Kraivixien, Thomas La Morte, Brett McLamb, Jeremy Nevius, Nyholm and Svensson.
 
Svensson earned his PGA TOUR card for 2025 after finishing among the top 10 players (not otherwise exempt) on the 2024 DP World Tour money list. The 2024 DP World Tour Rookie of the Year, Svensson won the Porsche Singapore Classic in March 2024, made the cut at the 2024 PGA Championship and earned a spot in The 152nd Open at Royal Troon (July 2024).
 
Nyholm became the third Campbell alum to win on the Korn Ferry Tour when he claimed the Visit Knoxville Open on May 25 to virtually assure his PGA Tour card for 2026.
 
Not only did Patino help lead the Camels to a postseason bid in her first season, but she also helped develop the 2025 Coastal Athletic Association co-golfer of the year Alicia Olsson and fellow first-team all-conference performer Mira Berglund.  She also coached the 2025 CAA rookie of the year Fanni Gronlund.
 
"Val's calm demeanor and her exceptional golf experiences helped our women's team regain our place among the top teams in the nation," said Crooks.  "Her guiding hand and her commitment to the ladies' team helped Campbell receive an at large NCAA bid last year."
 
In three trips to tournaments hosted by "power conference" programs, Patino helped the Camels finish 2-0-1 combined against Clemson, Tennessee and NC State.
 
"Serving as the assistant coach for this team has been a privilege," said Patino.  "I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to take on this new role. I look forward to continuing to grow with our team and coaches and look forward to all the amazing things we will accomplish this year."