BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell University Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore has announced that Valeria Patino has been promoted to Women's Golf Head Coach, while John Crooks will continue to serve on the Fighting Camel staff as Director of Golf.
 
"I'm thrilled to have one of the best young coaches in the country, Val Patino, step into the head coaching position for our women's golf program," said Bazemore.  "Since arriving on campus, Coach Patino has done an incredible job under Coach Crooks. She is ready for this role and will continue the legacy of this great program."
 
Crooks' new position supports the continued development and long-term stability of both programs through recruiting efforts, player development, alumni and donor engagement, and operational guidance while assisting with coaching instruction and program continuity.
 
"Coach Crooks is Campbell Golf, and one of the legends of collegiate golf," said Bazemore.  "For 36 seasons we have been so lucky to have Coach Crooks leading our golf programs, and it is a blessing to have him continue to share his wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership with our student-athletes and coaches in this new role."
 
In her first two seasons on the Camel staff, Patino helped lead the Camels to one postseason bid (2025) and a pair of third-place finishes in the Coastal Athletic Conference Championship.  She has mentored a CAA golfer of the year in addition to the 2025 CAA rookie of the year Fanni Gronlund.
 
Three Camel golfers have earned CAA all-championship team (top 5) honors in two seasons, including Jade Potter, who tied for fourth at the 2026 tourney.  She has mentored four all-league performers in her first two years.
 
"I'm so excited to step into the role of Head Coach for the Campbell Women's Golf team," said Patino.  "Over the past two years, first as Assistant Coach and most recently as Associate Head Coach, I've seen firsthand just how special this program is and how much potential our student athletes have.  It's both humbling and inspiring to lead a group that is so driven, talented, and committed to growing on and off the course.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue building on our strong foundation and excited to guide this team as we push toward new heights."
 
The 2026-27 season will mark Crooks' 37th year on the Campbell Golf staff and second as Director of Golf.  He served as head women's coach 1991-2026 and was the head men's coach for 35 years from 1990-2025.
 
"Valeria Patino spent the last four years as an assistant coach and is the right person to lead our women's program in the coming years," said Crooks.  "She is an excellent recruiter, an outstanding competitor, and possesses the patience to be a great coach.  Coach Val has shown the energy and determination to help each student athlete improve and advance during their collegiate career."
 
As Director of Golf, Crooks will provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction for the Campbell men's and women's programs.
 
"My focus will be on improving each player's and each coach's skill set," said Crooks.  "Thirty-six years and 164 combined victories may prove beneficial for both teams to reach the highest levels possible.  Roll Humps!"
 
A former five-time Big Sky all-conference performer, Patino was named assistant coach at Campbell in August 2024 and elevated to Associate Head Coach one year later. 
 
Patino joined the Fighting Camel program in August 2024 after spending the previous two years as graduate assistant coach at Ball State.  At Ball State, Patino helped the Cardinals win two team tournament titles and improve their national ranking by 50 places.  During her tenure, Ball State golfers set 18- and 54-hole program records and improved their scoring averages by seven strokes over 18 holes and 27 shots over 54 holes.
 
Born in Florida and raised in Panama, Patino earned Big Sky first-team all-conference recognition three times (2019-21) and was twice selected second-team all-league (2018, 2022) during her playing career at the University of Idaho.  She helped the Vandals win the 2018 Big Sky Championship and earn a place in the NCAA Madison Regional.
 
Patino earned her bachelor's degree in marketing from Idaho in 2022 and a master's degree in sport administration from Ball State in 2024.
 
She represented Panama in numerous junior events, including the Junior Open.  Patino was also ranked first on the Texas junior tour in 2017 while spending her final two prep years at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas.
 
One of the top collegiate golf coaches in the country, Crooks 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.
 
Before handing off head coaching responsibilities this month, Crooks was the third longest tenured active Division I women's head coach.  He was the fifth-longest among active D1 men's head coaches before Matt Moot was promoted to the head job in July 2025.
 
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 reached NCAA postseason play 16 times in the last 17 years.  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 led the women's team to 19 conference titles and 26 NCAA Regional appearances.  His women's teams advanced to regional play 23 times in the last 28 chances, including 12 of the last 14.
 
The Campbell women won seven of the last 10 conference titles and the men won three times since 2017 (2017, 2019, 2021) and finished as runner-up twice (2018, 2020).