DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Induction Year: 2025

Craig is a 1984 graduate of Willard High School. After graduating from high school he attended Ohio Northern University where he played football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business with a dual major in Accounting and Sports Management in 1989. He received his teaching certificate from Wright State University in 1993. Craig earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Dayton in 1999. In 2011 he earned a Masters in Athletic Administration from Western Kentucky University. In 2013 he earned his CAA (Certified Athletic Administrator).

Craig started his career at Tecumseh in the Fall of 1989 when he started coaching middle school football. The next year he was on the high school staff where he coached football through the fall of 2000. His teaching career started in 1993 at Medway Elementary for 3 years. He then went to Donnelsville Elementary where he taught 5th grade for five years. In 2001 he became the athletic director for the high school and middle school.

Craig was a member of SWOADA (Southwest Ohio Athletic Administrators Association), OIAAA (Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association), and NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) for 23 years. Tecumseh served as host for numerous OHSAA tournaments. Craig served as a tournament manager for Div. II sectional volleyball for 23 years, hosted OHSAA football quarter-finals 3 times, hosted Div. II boys and girls sectional soccer finals for 6 years, Div. III sectional tournament manager for boys’ basketball for the 3 years, Div. II sectional tournament manager for girls’ basketball for 12 years, and Div. II sectional tournament manager for Div. II sectional softball for 11 years.

During his time in these associations he was voted by his peers for the following awards:

• 2012 Sportsmanship Ethics & Integrity Award for SWOADA/OIAAA

• 2016 Athletic Director of the Year Award for SWOADA/OIAAA

• 2019 Meritorious Service Award for SWOADA

• 2020 Sportsmanship Ethics & Integrity Award for SWOADA

• 2024 Athletic Director of the Year  Award for SWOADA/OIAAA

During Craig’s time as the athletic director he incorporated a Scholar/Athlete award for each sports season where student/athletes are recognized for having a 3.2 GPA during a sporting season. He has helped upgrade the Athletic Hall of Fame. He started an All-Ohio Wall where athletes are recognized for qualifying for state tournaments and/or an athlete is recognized at the state level. He also started an Academic All Ohio Board. He led some of the coaches in revising the athletic code in 2003, 2009, and 2019. He also helped upgrade the facilities during the Ohio Schools Facility project at Tecumseh. Craig incorporated an All-Sports Pass to help save families money. He was in charge of the construction of the school’s first all-weather track (2015-16). He also performed the many unwritten duties on a daily basis.

Craig’s philosophy about Tecumseh Athletics was for the athletes to be a good person and student, for coaches to be positive role models, and for everyone to be a good sport, win or lose. He felt his job was to make sure the kids were safe and had the opportunities to learn life lessons on and off the field. Craig and the coaches came up with the following purpose for the athletic department: help young people become trustworthy, caring, and dependable adults who will make their families and communities better.

Craig would like to thank the many coaches, athletes, volunteers, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents, and other athletic directors he worked with to make his career a wonderful experience.

Craig and his wife Renee (1983 graduate of Tecumseh) have been married for 36 years. They have three children, Zeke, Jake, and Lucy (all Tecumseh grads and each played on a league championship team). Zeke and his wife, Sam, have two children, Xander and Brooks. Jake and his wife Devan have one son, Jace. Craig retired from Tecumseh in the spring of 2024. He and Renee have moved to Bardstown, Kentucky where they are enjoying their grandchildren. Craig is currently teaching 4th grade and Cox’s Creek Elementary.

Craig would finally like to thank the Hall of Fame Committee for selecting him into the prestigious Hall of Fame. He is extremely honored and humbled by the selection. He would also like to thank them for their hard work in making this weekend very special for the 2025 inductees and their families.