HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – An icon of Northern Kentucky University Norse Athletics, head track and field/cross country coach Steve Kruse announced his intent to retire following the 2025-26 campaign on Friday. 

"I want to thank everyone who has had a part in my 31 seasons so far," said Kruse. "I could not have done it with key individuals such as Jane Meier, Nancy Winstel, Kenny Shields, Kathy Stewart, and Bill Aker, along with all the student-athletes, all my assistant coaches, athletic trainers, and academic advisors over the years who have made our program a success. Also, through parents and athletes alike, we built a culture together that was successful, no matter how we performed on the course or track. The success of our alumni is a tribute to their hard work in and outside the classroom."

Kruse joined the Norse as head coach in 1994 and enters his 32nd year as head coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season. With 18 years at the NCAA Division II level and 13 more in Division I, he guided the Norse through eras of transition and growth, building programs that consistently excelled.

Kruse was honored as the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in 2006 and KTCCCA Kentucky College Coach of the Year in 2008, while also coaching two NCAA All-Americans in cross country: Zach Koehler in 2007 and Drew Harris in 2009. Serving as the seventh men's cross country coach and fourth women's cross country coach in NKU history, as well as the first and only head coach of the men's and women's track & field program, Kruse laid the foundation for long-term success across NKU athletics.

Coach Kruse's student-athletes delivered 11 women's indoor and 28 women's outdoor conference individual championships, while the men's program added five indoor and 12 outdoor titles. In total, NKU student-athletes under Kruse earned more than 200 all-conference honors under his watch, highlighted by 21 women's and 34 men's selections in cross country.

Kruse's programs also set a high bar in the classroom. NKU athletes collected 20 USTFCCCA Academic All-American awards in women's cross country and 15 on the men's side, along with multiple track & field honorees. His teams combined for 70 USTFCCCA Academic All-America Team distinctions and produced dozens of conference all-academic performers, further cementing his legacy of academic achievement.

From championships on the track to accolades in the classroom, Coach Kruse's career stands as a model of balance and commitment. As the architect of NKU's cross country and track & field tradition, he built a culture that prioritized excellence in all areas and prepared student-athletes for success beyond the playing field.

"We are grateful to Steve Kruse for the decades he has devoted to leading Norse track & field and cross country," said Northern Kentucky Director of Athletics Christina Roybal. "His guidance and care have shaped the lives of countless student-athletes, leaving a legacy that will endure long after his final season. As he prepares to retire following the outdoor track & field season, we extend our warmest thanks, congratulations, and best wishes."

The 2025 cross country season starts in just one week as the Norse travel to Eastern Kentucky for their first meet of the year. 

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