Brian Claypool is in his first year as the head softball coach at the College of the Holy Cross. Claypool, who is the eighth head coach in the 28-year history of the softball program, replaced Peter Maneggia, who resigned in May of 2007 after two seasons with the Crusaders.

Claypool served as a volunteer assistant coach for Holy Cross during the 2007 campaign. He was previously the head coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Claypool led the Hawks to an overall record of 12-20 in 2006, including a fifth place finish in the Empire 8 Conference.

Prior to his time at Hartwick, Claypool spent two years as the head coach at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Mass. He had an overall record of 27-38 with the Trailblazers, including a second place finish in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference in 2003. Following the 2003 season, Claypool was honored as the MASCAC Coach of the Year.

Before his arrival at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Claypool spent two years as a graduate assistant coach at Springfield (Mass.) College. He helped the Pride to a 38-10 record in 2001, with the team winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship. In addition to his coaching duties at Springfield, Claypool worked as an athletic counseling lecturer and as a physical education instructor.

Claypool started his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at the College of Wooster (Ohio) in 1999 and 2000, where he helped elevate the program from club status to a varsity program in 2000.

Claypool earned his bachelor's degree from the College of Wooster in 1999, and went on to receive a master's degree from Springfield College. During his time as a student, he was a four-year member of the Wooster baseball team from 1996-1999, as a first baseman and designated hitter. He was a part of the Fighting Scots' 1997 squad which finished in second place at the NCAA Division III Championship.