Northern Illinois University Athletics

Steve Crutchley joined the Northern Illinois University football coaching staff in March 2017 as an assistant coach working with the wide receivers. Crutchley will be doing the same in the 2018 season.

In his first season with the Huskies, Crutchley tutored three receivers with 40 or more catches. It was the first time since 2011, three different Huskie 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.

The Wisconsin native has coached extensively in Illinois during his collegiate career, as he spent three seasons as assistant (2013-14) and then associate head coach (2015) at Western Illinois University, and coached running backs at Southern Illinois for five seasons prior to that (2008-12).
 
At Western Illinois, 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.
 
During his time at Southern Illinois, 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 University where he served as wide receivers coach and assistant life skills director from 2002-2007. 
 
As a wide receiver at Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 1996-99, Crutchley was a four-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Scholar-Athlete, received the Henry and Shirley Vance School of Education Award in 1998 and was twice nominated for the Leadership Recognition Award.  He captained the football team that won the WIAA title in 1998.  In addition, he was a member of the Blugold track and field team and twice participated in the NCAA Championships in the 4 x 100 meter relay. He won the conference championship in the indoor 200 meters and was named the team’s most valuable track athlete in 1998 and 1999. 

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.


COACHING EXPERIENCE

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION