Steve Crutchley

Position: Running Backs Experience: Fourth Year Alma Mater: Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2001

Last updated on June 2, 2011

Steve Crutchley is in his fourth season as the running backs coach at Southern Illinois. He has guided two different running backs to All-America accolades in his first three years at SIU.

In 2008 he coached Larry Warner, who was an Associated Press first team All-America selection, named to the CSN Fab-Fifty All-America Team and was selected by The Sports Network as a third team All-American. Warner rushed for 1,265 yards and 10 touchdowns under Crutchley's tutelage also returned three kickoffs for scores while posting the nation's second highest kickoff return average (31.2).

After Warner's departure, the running back position was the biggest question mark for the Salukis entering the 2009 campaign.

Karim set new school records in average yards per carry in a game (21.0 vs. Southwest Baptist), most all-purpose yards gained in a season (2,339) and he twice broke the school record for the longest run from scrimmage (had touchdown runs of 92 and 93 yards). Karim went on to be drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After Karim went on to the NFL, the running back position at SIU was once again left with vacancy. Crutchley in turn led a trio of running backs in 2010 that combined to rush for 189.5 yards per game. The combination of Lucien Walker, Shariff Harris and Steve Strother put up four 100-yard rushing games and Crutchley's running backs have posted 17 100-yard rushing games in his three-year tenure at SIU.

Asides from Warner and Karim, Crutchley also led fullback John Goode to first team All-MVFC accolades in 2009. That year, Southern Illinois ranked fifth nationally by averaging 221.1 rushing yards per game. In 2010, Harris was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.

Crutchley came to SIU after spending six years at St. Cloud State (2002-07). He joined the St. Cloud State staff as the wide receivers coach in 2002 and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2007.

Crutchley played football and competed in track and field at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He was a three-year starter and letterwinner at wide receiver. His team won the WIAA title in 1998, and he was a two-time All-Conference selection.

In track, Crutchley was the 1999 conference champion in the indoor 200 meters and currently holds the 200-meter record at UWEC. He was also a member of the national qualifying 4x100 meter relay team in 1998 and 1999.

Crutchley received a bachelor's in social studies from UWEC and a master's in sports management from St. Cloud State in 2006.