With the start of the 2024 school year, Ben Kruse was welcomed as the new athletic director. Before becoming an AD, Kruse was a high school math teacher, assisted in coaching both football and soccer, held after-school weight lifting and a before-school FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) program. 

Kruse developed his love of sports when he was in high school and college where he competed in Varsity Soccer, Varsity Football, Varsity Track and Wrestling. He was ecstatic to get to work with student-athletes and plans on making an impact on the future culture of the Panthers athletics.

“I want to create a culture of hard work where we find success and we find ways to not just win, but in the losses we can still enjoy playing the game knowing we’ve given our best effort,” Kruse said. 

Kruse has already made educational and athletic impacts by checking in on student-athletes and making sure they get the help they need if grades are becoming a struggle.

“We want to better our athletes’ academics and be there for them if they need support.” 

He has also created student-section themes and encourages students to go out and support their peers. 

Kruse explains that he enjoyed finding ways to be a part of his students’ lives, but his passion was really helping his students succeed athletically. 

“I wanted the role of being an athletic director because I found myself trying to coach as many things as I possibly could,” Kruse said. “I was trying to find a way to connect with kids through sports and make a difference in the community through sports. I think students benefit from it, and I think an athletic director has an opportunity to promote healthy developments through sports.”