GRAND FORKS – University of North Dakota head football coach Bubba Schweigert announced Tuesday that Steve Crutchley has been hired to coach the running backs for the Fighting Hawks starting in the 2022 season. 

“We are pleased to announce the addition of Steve Crutchley to the University of North Dakota football staff,” said Schweigert. “Coach Crutchley brings a wealth of football knowledge to us and we are looking forward to his contributions to our program.  He has an impressive history of developing position players that excel both in the classroom and on the field.  Several of these players have gone on to professional football careers.”

The former standout at UW Eau Claire, Crutchley spent the previous three seasons at Temple as an offensive analyst where he helped coach multiple All-AAC and All-ECAC selections along the offensive line and skill positions. 

Prior to joining the Owls, Crutchley worked with the wide receivers while on staff at NIU. In 2017, Crutchley tutored three receivers with 40-or-more catches. It was the first time since 2011 three different Huskies’ wide receivers tallied 40-or-more receptions in the same season. Spencer Tears led the way with 43 catches for 528 yards, while Christian Blake amassed 442 yards on a career-high 41 receptions. D.J. Brown made a big leap from his sophomore to junior year, establishing career highs in catches (42) and receiving yards (365) in 2017.

Before being hired at NIU, Crutchley was head coach at Eau Claire (Wisc.) Memorial in 2016. From 2013-2015 he was an assistant head coach at Western Illinois. At WIU, Crutchley coached running backs and had a 1,000-yard rusher earn All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) honors in each of his seasons there.

He also handled multiple administrative roles including recruiting coordinator, academics, life skills and internal operations. He was part of the staff that led the Leathernecks to the FCS Playoffs in 2015. Crutchley was promoted to associate head coach for the 2015 season.

Crutchley worked with the running backs at Southern Illinois from 2008-12, while Schweigert was the defensive coordinator. During his time at SIU, he coached two different running backs to All-America honors and helped the Salukis win back-to-back conference championships and make a pair of FCS playoff appearances. SIU had three 1,000-yard rushers during his time there.

Crutchley began his collegiate coaching career at St. Cloud State where he served as wide receivers coach and assistant life skills director from 2002-2007. Crutchley earned his bachelor’s degree from Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1999 and received his master’s degree in sports management from St. Cloud State in 2006.