New Cougars Golf Coach Settles in Quickly

When he accepted the position of head golf coach at Oakton High on July 24, Chris Craddock had just over a week to prepare for tryouts, which begin Tuesday at International Country Club.

But Craddock has spent the better part of his lifetime preparing for the job, if not always with this specific position in mind.

“Golf is a great passion of mine, and as I am an Oakton graduate and have already been coaching for FCPS for the past eleven years, I thought it might be a good fit,” Craddock said.

Craddock, 33, has coached high school soccer in Fairfax County for 11 years, first at James Madison and currently at Chantilly, where he is a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach for the boys teams. His coaching credentials extend beyond a passion for sports, as well.

He works extensively with teens and young adults in his day job as an Associate Pastor at The King’s Chapel, a church in Clifton. There, he is responsible primarily for the middle school, high school, college-aged and young professional ministries.

“When I was a teenager, my life path was headed towards jail or death,” Craddock said. “I became a Christian, and my life radically changed for the better. I have dedicated my life to helping other teenagers and young adults as a result. … It is not easy to juggle two jobs, but I believe that helping teenagers make positive life decisions is well worth the effort.”

At Oakton, Craddock replaces former coach Jack Masich. Director of Student Activities Pat Full said Masich stepped down after three seasons to focus on his career as a schoolboar​d technology specialist at Chantilly High.

Full also added two experienced assistant coaches, enhancing the new staff’s credentials. Craddock invited former Lynchburg College golfer Dan Hamblen, an acquaintance, to assist him when he decided to apply for the job, Full said. Darlene Roach is a PGA-certified assistant professional at International Country Club, where Oakton is holding tryouts and will host the Aug. 15 Cougar Golf Classic.

“With the full staff together, we've got extensive golf experience on top of extensive experience as a Fairfax County coach,” Full said. “Chris doesn't have to go through the certification process and all of that, because he’s already coaching soccer at Chantilly.”

Craddock, for one, is confident he and his staff can hit the ground running, less than 10 days after being named.

“The time frame was indeed short, but I think that with our amazing coaching staff we have what it takes to make a strong start with a strong team,” Craddock said. “Coach Masich has been a wealth of knowledge, and the Oakton Athletic Department has been amazing. … The Oakton parents have jumped in right alongside of us, and I can’t wait to continue to work with them. We inherited a team that was on track to being one of the top golf teams in the area, and we intend to keep it that way.”