May 18, 2015 (Fairbanks, Alaska) – The Alaska Nanooks Department of Athletics has named Nick Crawford to the role of head cross country skiing and running coach, announced the University on Monday.

“I am delighted to return to Fairbanks, which has hands-down the best cross country ski and endurance running community in the country,” said Crawford. “I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence both academically and athletically with the Alaska Nanook program.”

A native of Massachusetts, Crawford skied competitively for Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he competed on the EISA circuit.

Following his time on the east coast, Crawford moved to Fairbanks where he served as both the head coach of the Lathrop High School ski team and as the assistant coach of Fairbanks Cross Country as part of the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks. He held those positions from 2009-11 before he moved to Boise, Idaho where he served as the head coach and program director of the Bogus Basin Nordic Team. There, in the 2015 Junior National Championships in March, Crawford’s athletes won three out of the four races in the Under-16 age category.

“We’re excited to have Nick join us as the newest member of our Alaska Nanooks coaching staff,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray. “He joins us as no stranger to Fairbanks and we are confident he will do a great job coaching and mentoring our Nordic ski and cross country running teams.”

Prior to accepting the position with the University of Alaska, Crawford completed his Master’s Degree in exercise science from Boise State University.