Two interim coaches appointed
Following the resignations of head men’s basketball Coach Chris Craig and women’s volleyball head Coach Brent Martindale spring semester, the assistant men’s basketball Coach Brad Barton was named interim head basketball coach with assistant women’s volleyball Coach Grant Barraclough was named interim head volleyball coach.
Coach Chris Craig left College of Eastern Utah to pursue an opportunity at Division I University of Northern Colorado located in Greeley, Colo., where he will be an assistant to Head Coach B.J. Hill.
Following the resignations of head men’s basketball Coach Chris Craig and women’s volleyball head Coach Brent Martindale spring semester, the assistant men’s basketball Coach Brad Barton was named interim head basketball coach with assistant women’s volleyball Coach Grant Barraclough was named interim head volleyball coach.
Coach Chris Craig left College of Eastern Utah to pursue an opportunity at Division I University of Northern Colorado located in Greeley, Colo., where he will be an assistant to Head Coach B.J. Hill.
The 28-year-old left after three successful years as head coach over the Golden Eagles basketball program with a won-loss record of 69 and 32. This past season the Golden Eagles finished third in the NJCAA tournament.
Coach Martindale completed his 15th year at College of Eastern Utah and one of his most successful seasons in CEU volleyball history. The season was highlighted by a home victory over perennial national powerhouse College of Southern Idaho. Martindale left to become the head coach of Mesa Community College volleyball team in Mesa, Ari.
Coach Barton played high school basketball under coach Jay Welk at Davis High School and Joe Cravens at Weber State where he was the captain of the team.
Barton then played and coached in the Switzerland Pro A League for one year and returned to be a student assistant at Weber State in 2004. He then coached as an assistant at Viewmont High, Snow College and most recently with Coach Craig at CEU.
“I want to see Golden Eagle basketball continue in the positive direction set by Coach Craig,” Barton said. “We will continue to bring in talented student athletes who will work hard on and off the court and to provide high quality basketball entertainment for USU-CEU and the people of Castle Country.”
Coach Barraclough has been the assistant volleyball at CEU on and off since 2000. He played club volleyball at Woods Cross High School where the team was the region champions in 1991 and 1992.
In 1995 he played club volleyball at the University of Utah. Barraclough later transferred to CEU where he graduated with an associate of science degree in 2003 and from the CEU Nursing Department as a registered nurse. He has been employed full-time by Castleview Hospital in Price since 2005.
“We have a great core of sophomores to work with this fall,” he said. “In combination with some outstanding freshman talent, we are looking forward to a strong showing in the always tough Scenic West Athletic Conference this fall.”
A search for permanent head coaches will begin after the respective seasons conclude.
