Steven Krouse is in his sixth year as Head Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach at Minnesota Crookston. Krouse helped launch the cross country program for the Golden Eagles in 2019. Minnesota Crookston decreased their team average every year since the program started and have had numerous cross country athletes named to the NSIC All-Academic teams. Â
Continuing the trend from previous seasons, Krouse guided both the men’s and women’s programs to new heights in 2024. Krouse led the women's program to new records times in the 5k and 6k with blistering new personal records from a majority of the team. In the 5k, the Golden Eagles started the season off on fire setting a new 5k team record of 20:32 lead by Anna Grabowski knocking down a new school record of 18:55.06 at the Augustana Twilight. The team continued their school record breaking streak by putting up a time of 23:43 at the 2024 NSIC Championship finishing 11 out of 15. Madison Hilliard lead the way on the Souris Valley Golf Course - Minot, N.D., by breaking the school 6k record with a time of 22:41.7. The men's team replicated the same results as the women and broke team records for the 4 mile and 8k. The Golden Eagle lowered their four-mile school record at the  Augustana Twilight with a time of 20:51 finishing 17th out of 30th. Noah Revels set a new school record of 20:09 in the process. In terms of the 8k, the men showed up when it mattered during the 2024 NSIC Championship and once again lowered their school record to 26:12 finishing 11th out of 13th. Leading the way for the Golden Eagles, Noah Revels set a new 8k school record of 25:26. After setting up his team to perform on the course, Krouse can be proud of his athletes off of it as well as he had many Golden Eagle perform just as good in the classroom. Six Golden Eagles achieved NSIC All Academic awards in Connor Thoennes, Noah Revels, Taylor Johnson, Lane Hoefs, Emma Williams, and Anna Grabowski. In addition, three Golden Eagles achieved NSIC All Academic Team of Excellence Awards with Evelyn Dupont, Catie Neumann, and Madison Hilliard.Â
The University of Minnesota Crookston women's cross country team put forth their best race as a program in school history at the 2023 NSIC Championship. The Golden Eagles had a record-high finish, placing 12th of 15 teams. Minnesota Crookston recorded their 6K team record with a time of 24:27. Minnesota Crookston took over three minutes off their race time from the 2022 NSIC Championship. Anna Grabowski led the team and capped off a terrific junior season by setting a new school record in the 6K, with a time of 23:17. Similarly, the University of Minnesota Crookston men's cross country team posted their best team average as a program at the NSIC Championship 2023, taking off a minute from their 2022 8k time. The Golden Eagles averaged a time of 27:04 breaking the previous school record. The Golden Eagles were led by sophomore Connor Thoennes who set a personal best 8k time of 26:24 at the 2023 Greeno Dirkson Invitational. In the classroom, men's cross country runner Warden Dahlgren was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence, while Connor Thoennes earned placement on the NSIC All-Academic Team. For women's cross country, Madison Hilliard was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. Alex Middendorf and Anna Grabowski were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team.
On the women's side in 2022, the Golden Eagles continued to improve their placement at the NCAA Central Region Tournament and every single runner placed personal bests and the Golden Eagles improved on their time by almost two minutes. Madison Hilliard capped off a terrific freshman season by placing 133rd at the Central Region Tournament. The men’s team also saw every runner set a personal best and improved their team average time by almost a minute and a half at the NCAA Central Region Championships, compared to 2021-22. Tristan Morneault and Colton Uber tied for first on the team (147th overall) at the Central Region Tournament. In the classroom, seven runners were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence: Brooke Benson, Alyssa Stillman, Anna Grabowski, Katie Orth, Rena Sakai, and Chris Feldeward.
On the course in 2021, Krouse was instrumental in helping the Golden Eagles drop their team averages in both men's and women's cross country from the 2019 season (the 2020 NCAA cross country season was canceled due to COVID-19). The Golden Eagle men's cross country team placed fifth out of seven teams at the University of Jamestown, and seventh out of nine teams at the Dragon Twilight. Minnesota Crookston's men's team was led by Hanokh Gailson, who placed 30th out of 115 runners at the NSIC Men's Cross Country Championship. In women's cross country, the Golden Eagles were led at the NSIC Women's Cross Country Championship by Madison Elijah, with a time of 28:03.93. In the classroom, eight cross country athletes were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team. Â
Krouse was a collegiate cross country and track and field runner at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science in 2011 from Saint Olaf College and Krouse graduated with his Masters from the College of Saint Scholastica (Duluth, Minnesota) in 2014 where he earned a Master of Science degree. In addition to his coaching resume, Krouse is certified by the National Athletic Trainer Association-Board of Certification and is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Krouse resides in Crookston, Minnesota, with his wife Daniele and corgis Biscuit and Gravy.
