From near extinction to total redemption, NKU cross country reflects Kruse’s perseverance
The NKU cross country team qualified for the 1979 NCAA Division II nationals. ------------------------------------------------------ Steve Kruse isn’t just a head coach at Northern Kentucky University. No, he’s more of a reluctant landmark on the Highland Heights campus, a statue of adaptive perseverance and impassioned longevity. A nearly six-decade association with the NKU cross country program — both as a runner and head coach — has made Kruse a modern connection to the infancy of the athletics program. It wouldn’t be accurate to say he’s a walking history book, simply because Kruse’s best known in the area of running. And, in 26 years as cross country head coach, he’s built a program that’s successful both academically and athletically. The affable Kruse is also inconspicuously linked to Hollywood giants Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman from an NKU perspective. Ever hear of the Academy Award-winning movie “Rain Man” and a place called St. Anne Convent? Steve Kruse Having been around N...