Northern Kentucky University Women's Track

Kruse enters his 20th season at NKU as the head coach of the cross country and track & field teams. He has seen three men's cross country runners qualify for the NCAA Championships, as well as two track athletes. He has coached twenty-eight All-Conference, six All-Region, and two All-American athletes during his tenure with the Norse. There have been thirty-five student-athletes coached by Kruse that have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors On campus, Kruse has organized the Brian Rohne Race for the past 19-years as well as the Valentine's Day Race that started over a decade ago. In 2012, he began the Summer Cross Country Series which helps fundraise for the team before the season begins. As a student-athlete, Kruse competed two years for NKU before transferring to University of Cincinnati to finish his career as a cross country/steeplechase specialist for the Bearcats. He graduated from UC with a degree in communication arts and has been active in the tri-states running scene ever since. He has been involved with NKU cross country in one way or another for more than 30 years. He currently resides in Fort Thomas, Ky., with his wife, Kate, and three sons, Wesley, Keegan & Cameron. Kruse attributes his being named mens Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year in 2006 to the unselfishness and dedication of the student-athletes that has become the norm rather than the exception represented by the Norse cross country teams.