NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Christopher Newport University men's basketball coach John Krikorian has announced he is leaving the program and has accepted an assistant coaching position at Elon University in Elon, N.C. Krikorian has led the Captains since June of 2010, and guided Christopher Newport to its first National Championship in 2023.

"When I first stepped foot onto campus in 2010, I was overwhelmed with excitement about the possibilities at CNU and for my family in Newport News," Krikorian said. "Over the last 16 years, this place has been the greatest home I could have ever asked for both personally and professionally. I have worked with incredible people and I am extremely proud of the memories we have created and shared both on and off the court."

Krikorian has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA men's basketball history at any level. Following his appointment to succeed C.J. Woollum, he elevated an already-successful program to new and historic heights. He led the Captains to a record of 362-84 (.812) in 15 seasons at the helm, and is 427-126 (.772) all-time in 19 seasons as a head coach. His CNU squads advanced to four NCAA Division III Final Four appearances, and the 2023 squad captured the NCAA Championship by beating Mount Union in the title game in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the tenth-fastest coach in NCAA basketball history to reach the 400-career-win milestone. 

Under his direction, the Captains have played in the NCAA Tournament the last ten seasons, the longest current streak in the nation. Christopher Newport has also advanced to the Sweet 16 in six of the last seven tournaments, enjoyed 11 consecutive 20-win seasons, and have won 30 NCAA Tournament games while losing just ten.

"I am eternally grateful to Presidents Paul Trible, Adelia Thompson, and Bill Kelly, all of whom poured into our teams and were personally invested in our success," Krikorian continued. "When C.J. Woollum helped to hire me as his successor, the entire Woollum family embraced us and those relationships have been incredibly meaningful to me and our family." 

Krikorian's teams at CNU won at least 18 games per season, and advanced to the conference championship game every year for the last 12 seasons in the Capital and Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conferences. His squads reached the NCAA National Quarterfinals in four consecutive seasons (2021-2024), becoming just the fourth program in Division III history to achieve that feat.

The National Championship team of 2022-2023 tied the school mark for victories with 30, finishing 30-3, and ended the year on a 15-game winning streak. The Captains had opened the season with a nine-game winning run, and earned the program's first-ever national #1 ranking in the weekly national poll. After winning the national title in Fort Wayne, CNU was the unanimous #1 pick in the post-season poll as well, and Krikorian was selected the National Coach of the Year.

"John's impact on Captains basketball is hard to overstate and the impact he has had on our campus and the Peninsula community," Director of Athletics Kyle McMullin said. "While I am happy for my friend and the opportunities in front of him, he will be dearly missed. I have complete confidence that we will have a strong leader for Christopher Newport basketball in the near future who will build upon the sizeable foundation of success of the last 58 years."

Krikorian's 2015-2016 squad finished with a 30-2 record, which set the school all-time single season win mark at the time, and advanced to the Final Four for the first time ever. His student-athletes were not only champions on the court, but also established a record of success in the classroom and gave back to the community through a range of service projects.

"The one constant over the last five decades of CNU basketball is Coach Roland Ross," Krikorian continued. "He has been a trusted confidante, mentor, and friend as he continues to positively impact countless student-athletes across this campus and in our community. I also want to thank Director of Athletics Kyle McMullin, who has supported our efforts every step of the way and worked tirelessly to lift our entire department onto the national stage, and of course our incredible alumni and fans who have shown such loyal support over the years. I certainly could not take this step alone. The unwavering support and sacrifices by my wife Emily and our children to go on this journey together means everything to me.

"I have always encouraged my players and my own children to follow their dreams, to dare greatly, and to be in the arena. It is time for me to follow my own advice. Thank you to every single player whom I've had the privilege to coach at CNU and every assistant coach who has worked behind the scenes to help build this championship culture. You are the reason we achieved so much and you are the reason I have the confidence to take on this new challenge."