FIU Athletics

Jerod Kruse enters his second season at FIU, serving as the Co-Defensive Coordinator. In addition to his coordinator duties, Kruse also oversees the FIU safeties.

Alongside Co-Defensive Coordinator Jeff Copp in 2019, the Panther defense was a stout group in the secondary as FIU ranked 17th overall in the nation for passing yards allowed per game (195.0). FIU also defended well in the pass efficiency category (117.64), ranking 23rd in the country. The ball hawking Panthers picked off 12 passes in 2019, which placed FIU 31st overall in the country and aided in Stantley Thomas-Oliver III being selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. 

Kruse's safeties excelled in 2019, with the group responsible for forcing four turnovers to help the Panthers rank in the top half of the conference. Olin Cushion III was a major factor in that, as the safety had one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. In addition to his ball hawking skills, Cushion racked up 65 tackles to rank third overall on the team. 
 
Kruse joins the FIU coaching staff after having served the prior two seasons with Cleveland Browns, assisting with defensive backs.
 
Kruse helped transform the Browns secondary from the bottom of the NFL rankings to the Top 10 in just two short seasons, finishing Top 5 in interceptions and passing touchdowns allowed, while ranking in the Top 10 for passing yards per attempt and red zone passing defense.
 
Kruse also helped develop rookie Denzel Ward to a Pro Bowl selection in 2018. Kruse was under interim head coach Greg Williams while at Cleveland, who he also spent time with at the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams.
 
Prior to the NFL, Kruse has logged 16 years at the collegiate level as well, making stops at Emporia State (2001-06), Baker University (2007), William Jewell College (2008-14) and Southeastern Louisiana (2015).
 
While at William Jewell, Kruse oversaw the program’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. In 2014, he was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year after leading the team to its highest conference finish since 1990. The Cardinals also featured a school-record 11 All-GLVC selections in 2014.
 
Prior to taking over as the head coach, Kruse was the William Jewell defensive coordinator for two seasons. During his time overseeing the Cardinal defense, it led the Heart of America Conference in third down defense and defense pass efficiency, while finishing in the top three in the conference in every defensive category.

Kruse’s other coaching stints included a season as secondary coordinator at Baker University and five seasons in the same role at Emporia State. During his time at ESU, the Hornets were twice atop the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association in total pass defense per game. Kruse helped Emporia State win a share of the conference championship and qualify in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2003.

Kruse also played collegiately, starting his career at Coffeyville Junior College (Kansas) where he was an All-Jayhawk Conference selection and played on two national runner-up teams. He spent his final two seasons at Emporia State, where he was named Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior and Most Inspirational Player as a senior.
 
Kruse earned both his bachelor’s degree in social science (2000) and master’s degree in health and physical education (2007) from Emporia State. He and his wife, Kristin, have a son, Cameron, and two daughters, Marin and Reese.