Alex Krutsch was hired as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach for Towson beginning in the 2023 season.
Year two saw Krutsch's special forces unit help Towson earn its first seven-win season since 2019 and first winning CAA season since 2018. Towson's kickoff unit averaged 41.9 net yards, the best average in the CAA. Keegan Vaughan was an All-CAA honoree for the second time, tying a Towson record of 11 consecutive field goals made.
In 2023, Krutsch's special team unit, dubbed "special forces" by Towson, saw two players honored by the CAA: Keegan Vaughan was Second Team All-CAA at kicker, ranking second in the CAA and 12th in FCS with a 83.3% field goal conversion rate, and Josh Cupitt with Honorable Mention All-CAA at punter, being first in the CAA and third in FCS with 44.9 yards per punt.
Entering Towson with 13 years of collegiate coaching experience, Krutsch has been part of Shinnick's coaching staff since 2013, including time at UNC Pembroke and then being one of the first assistant coach hires at the University of West Florida.
Krutsch was at West Florida from 2014-22 as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, helping with the start of football at the school. He helped the Argos to a 56-21 record from 2016-22, including the 2019 NCAA championship, the 2017 NCAA title game, the fastest team to make the NCAA DII title game, and a pair of league titles. West Florida finished in the top-two in sacks per game in the GSC in two of the past three seasons, plus had an All-American, John Williamson, in 2017 who set the Gulf South Conference single season record with 14.5 sacks.
Four West Florida defensive linemen earned all-league recognition the final three seasons. Defensive lineman Matt Gotel, a first team all-league player, earned a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League.
At UNC Pembroke from 2013-14, Krutsch was the defensive line coach, adding recruiting coordinator to his duties in 2014. The 2013 team finished No. 15 in DII with a 9-2 record, including a playoff berth. Matt Turner finished as a First Team All-Super Region II defensive end with 8.5 sacks that season.
Krutsch was the defensive line and strength & conditioning coach at North Central College for the 2012 season, helping the Cardinals win a seventh straight CCIW championship and a berth into the NCAA DIII Tournament. Two players earned First Team All-CCIW and Second Team All-North region honors as the team had 40 sacks, eighth in NCAA DIII that year.
He got his start in coaching at his alma mater of Northern Illinois University. Beginning as a video graduate assistant, he would be elevated to coaching defensive line. The Huskies were the 2011 Mid-American Conference champion and won two bowl games during his time: the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl and the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl.
As a player at NIU, Krutsch went from walk-on to a three-year starter and senior team captain, earning Third Team All-MAC honors at defensive line in 2007. He was the 2007 NIU Jawan Jackson Memorial Award honoree, given to a current/former walk-on with the greatest impact on the team. He graduated from NIU in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in organizational & corporate communication, earning his Master's Degree in sport management from NIU in 2011.
