Craig Buck played collegiate volleyball for Pepperdine University, earning All-American honors in 1980 and 1981. A member of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1976 to 1979, Buck was named Most Valuable Player at the AAU Championships and the US Junior Nationals in 1978. He was a member of the US National Team from 1981-88, winning two gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.
At 6-9 (2.05) Buck was a redoubtable presence on the front line. He was MVP at the 1985 USA Cup and the 1987 Savin Cup. At the 1986 World Championships, won by the United States, he was named Best Server, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Buck also won a gold medal at the 1985 World Cup. After the 1988 Olympics he played professionally in France and Italy from 1988-91, and then played in Japan. He played four-man beach volleyball from 1991-97 in the Pro Four-Man Tour. Buck and his family later settled in Colorado.