Athletic News

A.G. Kruger, a former AU assistant coach and head strength and conditioning coach, is taking over the helm of the Eagles’ traditionrich track and field program.

KRUGER ANSWERS THE CALL,

RETURNS TO AU AS HEAD TRACK AND FIELD COACH

A.G. Kruger wanted to come back to Ashland University and serve as its head track and field coach. Just not under the circumstances that came about this past January—the sudden passing of legendary coach Jud Logan. But, now that Kruger has taken over the nationally-renowned program (officially on June 6), he views it not as job, but as a life calling. Said Kruger, “It’s something I didn’t think would come at this time in my life, to have the opportunity. There’s no way I replace Jud, but I hope I have enough ‘Jud-isms’ in me. Learning from him and learning from other people, especially at the University of South Dakota from coach (Lucky) Huber and coach (Dave) Gottsleben … (I’ve learned) how to become a head coach. “I’m excited about the ability to come back here to AU and be able to keep moving the track and field program forward.” Most recently, Kruger served as the throws coach for NCAA Div. I South Dakota’s track and field program from 2015-22, a stint which included 2018 (outdoors) and 2022 (indoors and outdoors) Summit League women’s team championships. Kruger is a known commodity at AU, having spent 13 years training, coaching and teaching on campus, including stints as head strength and conditioning coach and assistant throws coach under Logan. “A.G. had the benefit of being mentored by a number of people, in and outside the track and field program, during his first stint in Ashland,” noted Al King, director of athletics at AU. “He went to South Dakota and continued his coaching education. He returns with new perspectives and ideas and the fire to maintain the outstanding all-around program Jud Logan put in place.” Kruger is just the third full-time head track and field coach at Ashland in the last 40 years, following Bill Gallagher and Logan. Following Logan’s passing, interim head coach Jacob Sussman led the Eagle men to second- (indoors) and fifth-place (outdoors) finishes at the 2022 NCAA Div. II Championships. “I want to thank interim head coach Jake Sussman and our assistant coaches who kept this program up and running this year,” King said. “They faced some unique obstacles and they didn’t back down from any of those. Once again, we were heard from on the national level. Our team showed exceptional poise and composure throughout the year and that’s a testament to the coaches and the leadership in this program.” Said Kruger, “I kind of look at this as … this is the move I have until I retire. It’s a place where you can raise a great family … and be able to have great track athletes and have fun and enjoy it.” Ashland’s men’s track and field team has finished fifth or better in 10 consecutive nationals, indoors and outdoors combined, and won three consecutive NCAA Div. II national titles (2019 indoors and outdoors, and 2021 indoors). The Eagle women have been on the nationals podium as recently as 2015 (tied for third indoors). “You look at Div. II, and it’s development,” Kruger said. “It starts with, how do you develop the talent you have here? You can’t complain about what recruits you don’t have, you say, ‘What do you have, and what do we do to make them better?’ That’s from day number one of getting them here…making sure they’re going to class, being great students, being great athletes and being great people. “You look at AU over the last couple of the years, it’s a great, balanced program. That’s why you’re winning national titles. I hope to get back there. It doesn’t mean it can happen overnight. It’s going to take time. The tradition here has been excellent. What we can do with the women is the same thing we can do with the men. The biggest thing is getting the group together to help these athletes to go from young boys and girls to becoming men and women, and moving forward with their lives.” Kruger, 43, a member of Team USA in three Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012), is a 2001 graduate of Morningside College. He and his wife, Laura, have two children, Geo and Marina.

MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

ENDS 2022 5TH IN THE NATION

Concluding Ashland University’s 2022 spring season and the entire 2021-22 athletic year, the Eagle men’s outdoor track and field team finished fifth at the 2022 NCAA Div. II Outdoor Championships. That marked a remarkable 10th consecutive topfive placement at nationals (indoor and outdoor combined) for the program.

Individually, senior Trevor Bassitt ended his stellar collegiate career with 10 national titles and 21 AllAmerican honors. Bassitt’s time of 48.98 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles finals gave him his 10th national championship and slotted him at No. 4 all-time in Div. II in the event.

Senior Brent Fairbanks added a third-place in the hammer throw at 209 feet, 5 inches, while fellow thrower Noah Koch, a sophomore, took eighthplace in the discus with a mark of 173 feet, 11 inches. Leading the relays was the 4x100 team of senior Tim Rumas, sophomore Doniven Jackson, senior Channing Phillips and senior Aaron Banks, with a runner-up performance in 39.33 seconds; Banks was fifth individually in the 200 meters at 20.64 seconds.

Both Bassitt and Fairbanks were College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-Americans®, with Bassitt eventually garnering the CoSIDA NCAA Div. II Academic All-America Team Member of the Year honor.

The final 2021-22 tally shows seven Ashland Academic AllAmericans®, tied for the most in a single academic year in athletic department history (2012-13, 2016-17), and Ashland became the first in Div. II to have two individuals recognized as the overall Team Member of the Year (Kari Pickens, now head women’s basketball coach at her alma mater, was the other).

SPRING SPORTS WRAP-UP

BASEBALL – The Eagles made the NCAA Div. II postseason for the 17th time in 25 years; prior to that, the program’s first 100 years were recognized in early April. Ashland was the runner-up in both the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament.

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD – Ashland was tied for 42nd nationally, and freshman Kelsey Kinsley picked up her first All-American award by finishing fifth in the women’s hammer throw (191 feet, 3 inches). Senior hurdler Rachel Miller was named first-team CoSIDA Academic All-America for the second year in a row.

STUNT – The Eagle STUNT program’s first full season was a successful one, as the team finished 9-3. Ashland’s first home game at Kates Gymnasium was a 16-0 defeat of Ursuline.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE – Under first-year head coach Lauren Simko, the Eagles improved to 6-11 overall and 5-5 in the Great Midwest, good for a conference tournament appearance. Junior Cassady Becker earned Great Midwest Attacker of the Year honors. She finished with 50 goals. WOMEN’S GOLF – Ashland, with three freshmen and a sophomore in the lineup, finished fifth at the 2022 Great Midwest Championships. With four eagles in 2021-22, freshman Samantha Webb set both new single-season and career program records, and was tied for the second-most in Div. II.

SOFTBALL – The Eagles finished 12-23 overall and 6-16 in the Great Midwest, and have a lot to look forward to, thanks to a young team and a new oncampus turf softball field that will debut in the spring of 2023.

TENNIS – Ashland’s men were 6-12 overall and 2-4 in the Great Midwest in the fall and spring, and the AU women were 7-9, 3-4. Senior Stuart Brdicka became the first Eagle men’s tennis player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America status.

MEN’S GOLF – The Eagle men, another young squad with two freshmen and three juniors playing most tournaments, finished 11th at the 2022 Great Midwest Championships.