Patriots Shining Moments

Archery

The Patriots archery team won their fourth consecutive 3D National Championship and their first USA Outdoor National Championship, their 12th National Championship in program history. They were also the MSC Team Champions for the fourth straight year. In total, the team had 16 archers who received MSC Academic All-Conference honors (the most in program history), 17 archers named to the USA All-Region Team (also the most in program history), and 12 archers named Academic All-Americans, 17 All-Americans, and 3 USA Archery Shooters of the Year. The archers this season broke numerous program records.

Madison Cox, ’23, a McKee, Kentucky native, has made the podium in eight national events – every national event she has competed in. She has also won five Individual National Championships and owns all three school records in archery (3D, Indoor, and Outdoor). She recently became the first Patriot archer to win an individual “Triple Crown,” winning all 3 national events in the 2021-2022 season. She has set three national records and is a two-time MSC Shooter of the Year – the only archer in MSC history to win that twice. She was named the USA Collegiate All-Around Shooter of the Year in 2020 and 2022, is a three-time Academic All-American, a three-time All-American, and a two-time Academic All-Conference awardee, among other honors.

Football

Shan Housekeeper, a longtime defensive coordinator within the Mid-South Conference, has been named the head coach at University of the Cumberlands. Housekeeper becomes just the sixth head coach in program history replacing Matt Rhymer, who stepped down in December.

"We are thrilled to bring Coach Housekeeper to Williamsburg," said Chris Kraftick, athletic director. "After undergoing an extensive search process, Shan proved himself the perfect fit for Cumberlands."

"The Patriots football program has had a tradition of great players and coaches," said Coach Housekeeper. "I'm excited to do my part to continue to develop high standards through clear expectations, great relationships, and hard work."

Housekeeper comes to Williamsburg after spending 14 years on the coaching staff at Georgetown College. During his time as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach for the Tigers, Georgetown had one of the best defenses in the NAIA. Housekeeper also served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach as well as worked countless summer football camps. Housekeeper won the 2021 Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division Assistant Coach of the Year and the Donna Hawkins Coaching for Significance Award in 2018, and he was nominated for the 2017 National Coordinator of the Year. In his time with Georgetown, Housekeeper has coached five Mid-South Conference Defensive Players of the Year, 11 NAIA All-Americans, and 65 MSC All-Conference selections.

Bowling

The Patriots made history this season at the NAIA National Championship. Cumberlands received an at-large bid to the tourney and made the most of it, making it all the way to the final four teams. Their season ended in the semifinals in a highly competitive match with Indiana Tech. The Patriots had a historic season, finishing fourth, the highest placing at the national tournament in program history.

Men's Golf

After winning the Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship, Jarryd Elliott, ’24 received MSC Golfer of the Week honors, announced by conference officials the first week of May 2022. He also garnered Second Team All-Conference honors this year, the first all-conference recognition in his career. The Witbank, South Africa, native secured top-20 finishes in four of the Patriots’ nine events this season.