New coaches named

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Late Monday afternoon news that Utah State University College of Eastern Utah had picked new coaches in its athletic departments was released.
Following the resignations of head men’s basketball coach Chris Craig and women’s volleyball head coach Brent Martindale, assistant men’s basketball coach Brad Barber was named interim basketball coach and assistant women’s volleyball coach Grant Barraclough was named interim women’s volleyball coach.
Coach Chris Craig left College of Eastern Utah to pursue an opportunity at Division I University of Northern Colorado located in Greeley Colorado where he will be an assistant to Head Coach B.J. Hill.
Coach Craig leaves after three successful years as the Head Coach of the Golden Eagles 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 fifteenth 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. Coach Martindale is leaving to become the head coach of Mesa Community College volleyball team in Arizona.
Barton played high school basketball under coach Jay Welk at Davis High School and for 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 as coach Chris Craig at CEU.
“I want to see Golden Eagle basketball continue in the positive direction set by Coach Craig,” said Barton. “We will continue to bring in talented student athletes who will work hard on and off the court and will continue to provide high quality basketball entertainment for Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah and the people of Castle Country.”
Barraclough has been the assistant volleyball at College of Eastern Utah 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. Coach Barraclough later transferred to College of Eastern Utah where he graduated with an A.S. in 2003 and from the CEU Nursing Department as a Registered Nurse. He has been employed full-time by Castleview Hospital.
“We have a great core of sophomores to work with this fall, said Barraclough, 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.”