by Wil Teague, Sports Information Director
Paragould, Ark.- Big news has officially hit the Ridge as of today with the Pioneer Athletic Department undergoing some internal leadership changes. After 38 ½ years of involvement in Pioneer Athletics, Athletic Director Paul McFadden has decided to step down as Crowley’s Ridge College’s A.D. Coach McFadden, or Coach Mac as many know him, has been involved with CRC Athletics since May of 1985, where he helped build up CRC’s first ever Women’s Basketball program but was officially named CRC’s first Athletic Director in 1998. Over the years, Coach Mac has pieced together a proud resume by coaching three sports, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, and Baseball, while helping the athletic programs transition as the school grew. In McFadden’s reign as A.D., CRC transitioned through 6 collegiate divisions of competition: the Southland Christian Athletic Conference, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the National Small College Athletic Conference, the Association of Christian Athletics Conference, the National Christian Athletic Conference, and finally the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. It’s not hard to tell the impact that Coach Mac has had on Pioneer Athletics. Luckily for Crowley’s Ridge College, McFadden will still be around the campus as a Biblical professor and will remain the Vice President of Student Affairs. This transition will allow him to focus more on his classroom work and help with the overall enrollment of the college with the Admissions Department, but don’t worry, Coach Mac will still have his hand in athletics as he plans to serve as an advisory role going forward. On behalf of Crowley’s Ridge College and Pioneer Athletics, we thank you for your example, leadership, and the many sacrifices you have made for the school and its athletic programs. Congratulations on this new role at CRC, Coach Mac.
Pioneer Athletics had no trouble finding their new Athletic Director as former Assistant Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Perkins smoothly transitioned into the new role. Perkins is currently entering his 17th year at Crowley’s Ridge and has a rich history with former A.D. Paul McFadden. The two spent many years coaching alongside one another in Pioneer Athletics. Perkins had this comment about the change – “Thank you to Dr. Johnson for trusting me to take over this role. Thank you to Coach Paul McFadden for recommending me to take over the athletic department and for his amazing leadership and friendship over the past 17 years as we worked together. I look forward to leading Crowley’s Ridge College Athletics to the next level both at a conference level and a national level. We have a great coaching staff here and we have exceptional student-athletes, I can’t wait to see what our future holds here.”
Lastly, Jordan Malone was selected to fill Chris Perkin’s former role as she was named the new Assistant Athletic Director. Jordan enters her 9th year as the Lady Pioneers Head Softball Coach but enters her 14th year of being associated with CRC as she was a dual sport student-athlete playing basketball and softball while enrolled. Malone is no stranger to leadership positions as she has served as the school’s Senior Woman Leader for the past three years. Malone commented, “As I enter my 9th year at CRC, I can’t help but look back and acknowledge that I have loved every second of it. I have enjoyed watching the growth and improvements of Pioneer Athletics over the years. I’m grateful to be honored with this new position as it gives me the ability and opportunity to be a part of more.”
Congratulations to all three coaches in their new roles, may you all bleed green, white, and black forever. #GOPIONEERS
