Longtime Ashland University strength and conditioning coach A.G. Kruger has accepted a position at the University of South Dakota to become an assistant track coach responsible for working with the throwers.  

Kruger, who had been at Ashland for the past seven years, said that the decision was one that was right not only for him, but for his entire family.  Kruger’s whole family including his wife, Laura, who served as a professor in Ashland University’s health and physical education department, and his two children, will also be leaving Ashland.  

While preparing for the world championships of track and field, where he will compete for Team U.S.A. in the hammer throw, Kruger has already begun contemplating his goals for the University of South Dakota.  

“I want to really take what I have learned from working here at AU, and especially what I have learned from my coach, mentor and friend, Jud Logan, to try to start my own great tradition at USD,” said Kruger.

Kruger added, “I am excited to develop and really help USD become a nationally prominent track team in NCAA Division I.”  

South Dakota, which competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Summit League, finished as the conference runner up to North Dakota State in both the men’s and women’s conference championships. 

The first thing the three-time United States Olympian, Kruger, thinks of when he reflects on his time at Ashland is the athletes he worked with. 

“Through this time I have worked with countless amounts of teams and athletes, and hoped I gave them some great experiences and helped them grow as people, that is really my underlying goal.  I wanted to make sure not just to make them better athletes, but to also help teach them responsibility, work ethic, discipline, and to make sure they had a passion in whatever goal they were going for.”

When Kruger was hired seven years ago, the position of strength and conditioning coach did not yet exist at Ashland University.  Previous athletic director, Bill Goldring, decided that establishing the position would help improve both the performance and injury prevention of student athletes.  

While Kruger is proud of what has transpired in the past seven years, he is also very excited about the future of Eagle athletics and the university itself, voicing his high expectations for Ashland.

As he is preparing for the next step in his journey, Kruger, who will be in Beijing, China for the IAAF World Championships of track and field, which begin on Aug. 22, wants everyone who had an impact during his time at Ashland to be recognized and appreciated.  

“I have really cherished my time here working with everyone I have worked with, and I appreciate everyone who has helped me to do my job better,” said Kruger.

The university will now seek to fill the void left by Kruger’s absence at the position of strength and conditioning coach.