Steve Kruse is entering his 13th season as men’s and women’s cross country coach at Northern Kentucky University.

Kruse has built NKU into a solid Great Lakes Valley Conference program, and last season his women’s team produced its third straight All-GLVC performer in Julianne Hoekzema. In addition, men’s standout Keith Knapp became the first NKU performer in history to receive the GLVC Runner of the Week honor.

Two years ago, Kruse guided both programs to successful campaigns. The NKU men posted a fifth-place finish at the GLVC Championships, and the Norse featured the GLVC Freshman of the Year in Knapp. The fifth-place finish was NKU's best since the 2000 season.

The NKU women also finished fifth at the GLVC Championships, and Norse runner Tracy Carskadon earned All-GLVC honors for the second straight year by setting an NKU record in the six-kilometer run with a time of 22:45.

Three years ago, Kruse’s women’s cross country team produced NKU's first-ever All-GLVC selection for that program when Carskadon posted an eighth-place finish at the GLVC Championships. The NKU women also finished fifth as a team, the best performance for the Norse since 1991.

Kruse, a 1984 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, attended NKU from 1979-81 and ran cross country for the Norse before transferring. He then competed for both the track and cross country teams at UC while earning degree in Communication Arts.

A 1979 graduate of Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Kruse earned Most Valuable Runner honors for the Highlanders and second team All-City accolades.