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Ohio Northern University

Cody Cruzen returns to alma mater as Assistant Football Coach

Cody Cruzen returns to alma mater as Assistant Football Coach
February 12, 2020

By Tim Glon

ADA — Cody Cruzen has returned to his alma mater as an assistant football coach. He will coach the receivers and will serve as special teams coordinator.

Cruzen was in New Hampshire at Division II Saint Anselm (N.H.) during the 2018 season where he was the team's defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. During his time out east he coached a pair of all-conference selections in the secondary and on special teams.

Before going to Saint Anselm, Cruzen was at Muskingum where he served as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for the Muskies. He led a defensive group that was in the top of the OAC and in 2017 the Muskie defense led the OAC in takeaways. Prior to his stint in New Concord, Cruzen was a graduate assistant for Ball State in Muncie, Ind.

He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons coaching the secondary at the University of Dayton. He helped the Flyers compile 18 wins in 23 games and earn an appearance in the FCS postseason. He coached two First Team All-Pioneer Football League selections in addition to the PFL Special Teams Player of the Year.

At Tiffin during the 2013 season, Cruzen assisted a defensive unit that ranked second in interceptions in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Cruzen got his start in coaching in 2011 at Ohio Northern. For two seasons he coached in the secondary mainly focusing on the safeties.

In his time coaching, Cruzen has coached 13 all-conference selections, 3 All-Americans and 4 future NFL players. He has also recruited Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, South Florida and Texas.

A 2011 graduate from Ohio Northern, Cruzen was a four-year student-athlete at safety and was a part of the nationally-ranked squad as a senior, ranking eighth in the national polls. He helped the team allow only 156.5 passing yards per game in 2010 en route to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Physical and Health Education from ONU.