Craig Buckley joined Colby Athletics as the Dawn Strout Head Strength & Conditioning Coach in June 2023.
"I am incredibly excited to welcome Craig to our team" said Dr. Anne Beethe, Director of Peak Performance. "He brings a seasoned expertise to our program which will take Colby Athletics to another stage of success. Craig's knowledge and passion for training student-athletes, combined with his incentive to build community, made him a fantastic fit for our team."
Buckley will be a key member for the Peak Performance Team, working as a Peak Lead coordinator in charge of the strength & conditioning component for all 32 varsity programs, including its staff. In conjunction with Colby's other Peak Leads (Tim Weston: Director of Sports Medicine, Dr. Amy Baltzell: Mental Performance Specialist, Alexis Jones: Registered Dietitian, Dr. Elizabeth Rothe: Team Physician), Dr. Beethe's team works collectively to support student-athletes and coaches in a fully comprehensive way not seen at any other Division III institution.
With 20 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, Buckley has led strength and conditioning programs at Boston College, North Carolina State, the University of Pittsburgh, Bryant University, and the University of Wisconsin. Prior to entering the coaching realm, he competed as an All-American wrestler for the Bridgewater State Bears. His pursuit of competition has never left him, as Buckley competed in the Weightlifting Olympic Trials in 2012 (Columbus, Ohio), and most recently won a Masters National title in 2021.
"I am thrilled about the opportunity to work at Colby and to join Dr. Beethe's team," said Buckley. "I am incredibly impressed with the Peak Performance model and the facilities, and see endless possibilities for the overall development of Colby's student-athletes. As someone who continuously looks to expand my expertise by exploring new methods and techniques in this field, there is no better scenario than what Colby's Peak Performance team has established and is strengthening for its students day in and day out. I am excited to get to know all my new colleagues and work towards winning NESCAC titles with all of you!"
