Get to know Matt Moot (Dec. 2, 2019)
Former Camel standout Matt Moot was named head coach of the Campbell University men’s golf program on July 1, 2025. Now in his eighth season on the Fighting Camel staff in 2025-26, he served as assistant coach from 2017-21 before re-joining the program in August 2022. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in June 2023.
During his time in Buies Creek, Campbell has earned five NCAA post-season trips, won 12 tournament titles and three conference crowns.
“Matt has made our men's program better in every way possible,” said John Crooks, who served as head men’s coach from 1990-2025 before moving to Director of Golf/Head Women’s Coach in July 2025. “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.
Since re-joining the Campbell program, Moot has helped lead Johansson (2024) and Bjelke (2025) to NCAA postseason competition.
During the 2024-25 season, Campbell claimed the team title at the Cutter Creek Intercollegiate, was runner-up at the Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate and Georgetown Intercollegiate, while finishing third at the Palmetto Intercollegiate and CAA Championship. Moot helped lead the Camels to a top 100 (No. 86) national ranking.
Off the course, eight Camels earned CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll status in 2024-25 and the team posted a 3.662 combined GPA, tops among all Campbell men’s programs.
In his time at NC State, Moot helped lead the Wolfpack to consecutive NCAA regional berths, including an appearance in the 2021 NCAA finals. NC State won seven tournaments over three semesters and was ranked as high as eighth in the country in 2021. He also coached a pair of All-Americans in Benjamin Shipp and Maximilian Steinlechner.
Moot previously served as assistant coach at his alma mater from January 2017 through Feb. 2021. During his first stint with the Camels, he helped guide CU to a pair of Big South Conference titles and three-straight NCAA regional appearances. With Moot on staff, the Camels logged 11 first-place tournament finishes in that four-year span.
Campbell earned a top-25 preseason national ranking (No. 23) in the fall of 2019, finished in a first-place tie at the Little Rock/First Tee Classic, while adding three runner-up finishes (Golfweek Conference Challenge Wolfpack Intercollegiate, Intercollegiate at Innisbrook) before the season was halted after six events due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Golf Coaches Association of American (GCAA) named junior Pontus Nyholm to the PING All-East Region team.
Moot helped guide Campbell to a victory at the 2017 Border Olympics in March, then to a record-breaking triumph at the 2017 Big South Conference Championship to earn the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA West Lafayette Regional.
In his first full season at Campbell (2017-18), Moot helped lead Campbell to three tournament wins - the ODU OBX Intercollegiate, Battle at Stono Ferry and Border Olympics - a Big South runner-up finish and a second-straight NCAA Regional berth.
The 2018-19 squad won a school-record five tournaments, earned a fourth-straight NCAA postseason trip, and claimed the Big South crown for the second time in three years.
A two-time NCAA regional participant during his Campbell career, Moot joined the Fighting Camel staff after playing professionally and serving assistant general manager at Windber Country Club in Salix, Pa., and as head coach at Bishop McCort High School in his hometown of Johnstown, Pa.
During his playing career at Campbell, Moot compiled 11 top-10 individual finishes and a 73.77 stroke average in 38 events. The Golf Coaches Association of America twice named Moot a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar. He graduated with a 3.69 grade-point average as a business administration major and earned Atlantic Sun Conference all-academic team recognition in each of his four years.
Moot capped the 2011 season with a second-place finish at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship (69-69-72—210), his third runner-up showing of the year. A two-time ASun all-tournament performer, Moot finished fourth in the 2010 ASun Championship. In addition, he was named to the 2011 ASun all-conference team and earned an individual berth to the NCAA Virginia Tech Regional.
He tied for 14th in the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship to help the Camels earn the team title and the program’s first team berth in the NCAA Regionals.
After graduating from Campbell in May 2011, Moot played on several mini tours along the east coast, including events on the Egolf Tour, Florida Professional Golf Tour, and Web.com Tour for two seasons.
He served as assistant general manager at Windber Country Club in Salix, Pa. As the head boys’ and girls’ golf coach at Bishop McCort High School, his teams collected a number of tournament titles, including the 2016 Laurel Highlands Conference Championship.
Full Name
Matthew Ronald Moot (middle name comes from my father)
Hometown
Lillington, N.C./Johnstown, Pa.
Hometown Club
Keith Hills GC/Windber CC
First job in Golf
Junior Golf Instructor
Favorite Golfer of all time
Arnold Palmer
Favorite Golf Course
Keith Hills GC
Hardest Golf Course I've played
Oakmont CC
Ideal 4-some
Any three of my college teammates playing against the foursome behind us of college teammates
Best golf tip I’ve heard
Act and think as if the golf ball knows what you are thinking
Favorite Sports Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins (in that order)
Hidden talent
Can name every Masters champion by year on command
What I’ve learned from Coach Crooks as a player and coach
Too long to list. Outside of family members, he has shaped my game, career, and coaching style far more than anyone else – certainly the greatest coach, mentor, and boss I have ever had.
