VERMILLION, S.D. — Director of Olympic Sport Performance Bryan Plenge has rounded out his staff with the addition of Craig Nolan to the Olympic sports performance staff heading into 2025-26. Nolan will work with the Coyote volleyball, swimming and diving, and women's tennis teams at South Dakota.
 
"We're excited to welcome Craig to our Olympic Sports Performance staff. Craig brings a tremendous amount of positive energy and a true passion for building strong relationships with our student-athletes and staff," said Plenge. "His ability to connect, combined with his drive for excellence in sports performance, will allow him to make an immediate impact on our culture and continued growth."
 
Nolan joins the Coyotes after a year at UMass Lowell where he worked with the River Hawks track and field and men's lacrosse programs. He also oversaw the development of interns and graduate assistants on staff.
 
Prior to his time in Massachusetts, he spent a summer as an intern at Boston College where he worked with BC football. He worked directly with injured and return-to-play athletes and led warm-ups for resistance training.
 
Nolan also spent a few years in different non-collegiate athletics working with high school and collegiate athletes and different clientele base.
 
Nolan earned his degree in exercise science from the University of Alabama in 2020. He would go on to earn his master's degree in sport and fitness management from Missouri Western State University in 2023.