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| Hobart athletics photo |
Hobart football coach Mike Cragg has announced that after 32 years coaching at Hobart, he will transition into the Office of Advancement as the senior director of development for athletics, a role that combines Cragg's background with his dedication to providing opportunities for students to succeed as scholars and athletes.
Cragg's teams have enjoyed great success on the gridiron and in the classroom. He holds the Hobart football career coaching records for wins (157) and winning percentage (.717). Academically, the Statesmen have earned 163 conference all-academic awards since the start of the 2001 season, including a program record 18 this past fall, while seven Hobart players have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America teams — including offensive lineman Brian Monaco '10 who became the first two-time first team Academic All-American in Hobart history.
"My years as a coach at Hobart have been a truly rewarding experience and my decision to leave coaching was made after a great deal of thought," Cragg says. "I am honored and excited to take on this new role serving the colleges. Building championship winning teams that are routinely ranked among the best in the nation is only possible through the diligence and dedication of parents, alumni, alumnae, scholar-athletes and coaches. That teamwork made my coaching job more gratifying than I would have imagined, and I will continue to rely on that support in advancement."
Kevin DeWall, a former assistant under Cragg and recent head coach at Endicott, has been appointed the 24th head coach of the Statesmen football program. DeWall will be the first alum to lead Hobart on the gridiron since Francis L. "Babe" Kraus '24 guided the program in 1942. The 2000 Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, DeWall received a bachelor's degree in biology at Hobart, earning Dean's List honors in each of his four years on campus where he was a member of the Orange Key and Druid honor societies.
"We are honored to welcome Kevin back to Hobart," Miller says. "He is a model Statesman and an exceptional leader who has a keen offensive mind and an acute attention for detail. With a strong record of success as a coach and with a focus on developing character and academic success in his players, Kevin is the right coach to lead the next chapter of Hobart football."
"This is an exciting day for Hobart football," Cragg says. "Kevin is an incredible football coach who values the principles of Division III sports. He will lead the program with passion, conviction and with honor. I'm very excited for the future of Hobart football."
At Endicott, DeWall raised the football program's strength of schedule, expanded the program's recruiting footprint, and improved the academic performance of Gull football players. In addition to serving as head coach at Endicott, he was the team's offensive coordinator and worked directly with the quarterbacks. During his three seasons in Beverly, Massachusetts, DeWall's student-athletes earned 90 conference all-academic awards (sophomores, juniors or seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher), 30 all-conference awards, two conference defensive rookie of the year awards and one CoSIDA Academic All-America award.
As the senior director of development for athletics, Cragg will continue to build on the relationships he established as a coach. "As we enter a campaign, Mike's expertise and enthusiasm for the colleges will be extremely helpful," says Vice President for Advancement Bob O'Connor. "I look forward to Mike joining my team as we continue to grow our fundraising efforts."
In 23 seasons at the helm of the football program, Cragg compiled a 157-62 overall record. Among active Division III coaches, he ranks 20th in career wins.
Cragg's Statesmen were 90-28 in Liberty League play, winning at least a share of 11 conference titles. The only coach to ever lead Hobart in the postseason, Cragg's teams earned 10 NCAA playoff bids, including quarterfinal appearances in 2012 and 2014, and won the 2003 ECAC North Atlantic Bowl.
Cragg has mentored 326 all-conference selections, including 24 players of the year (offensive, defensive, or special teams) and seven rookies of the year. He has also coached dozens of All-Americans, including consensus All-Americans Dave Russell '98, Alex Bell '05, Tyre Coleman '15 and Ali Marpet '15. Several Statesmen have gone on to play football professionally, most notably Marpet, who was the 61st overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and is a three-year starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cragg's success has been rewarded with 10 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year awards, most recently in 2016, and two AFCA Regional Coach of the Year awards. In 2010, he was inducted into the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame.
"I'm grateful for Mike's leadership and mentorship of generations of Hobart men," HWS Vice President for Campus Life Robb Flowers says. "I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role."
One of the veteran members of the Hobart coaching staff, Cragg joined the staff as an assistant football coach in 1986. He also served as the head coach of the tennis team for three seasons, compiling an overall record of 36-10 and three conference titles from 1992-93 to 1995-96.
The architect behind some of Hobart's most productive teams in program history, DeWall's offense generated eight of the top nine scoring seasons and eight of the top 10 seasons of total offense in school history. In 2012 and 2014, the Statesmen advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.
DeWall began his coaching career with the Statesmen in 2000, serving as the defensive backs coach for three seasons. In his first season on the sidelines, Hobart broke the NCAA season record for lowest completion percentage allowed (31.3%).
As a Hobart student, DeWall was a defensive back in football and an attackman for the Division I Statesmen lacrosse team. When he graduated in 2000, he held the record for career assists in Division I, helping Hobart earn two NCAA lacrosse tournament appearances and the 2000 Patriot League championship.
DeWall inherits a Hobart team coming off a 7-3 season. The Statesmen were 3-2 and tied for third in the Liberty League. Over the past seven seasons, Hobart has won five Liberty League Championships and made five NCAA playoff appearances.