Northwestern is excited to welcome new members to the coaching staff this year. Kyle Achterhoff, Stephanie Kuhl and Blake Wieking are enthused about their new roles in the NW athletic department.
Head football Coach Kyle Achterhoff, originally from Edgerton, Minnesta, is a 1990 graduate of NW. He played football and ran track, as a student. After graduating, Achterhoff taught and coached at the high school level for Ida Grove and Galva-Holstein Schools. He was a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State, where he received his Master of Arts degree, and from there coached at Dakota State University in Madison, SD. For the past 11 years, Achterhoff has been an assistant football coach at NW.
The small town feel of Orange City has really appealed to Achterhoff and his family.
“The people here and the students are great people.”
The football season is off to a great start this year, and Achterhoff has a very positive attitude for what is to come.
“I am excited to work with this great group of guys. I have seen a lot of growth in them already, and it will be fun to watch them all mature. This is a very talented group athletically, and I think we will see a lot of improvement on the field during the season.”
Achterhoff’s coaching staff includes a new, yet familiar name: Perry Krosschell. Krosschell has, and will continue to act as the Director of Campus Security.
Joel Penner, a graduate of Trinity International University, also joins the football coaching staff as the offensive coordinator.
The new NW softball, Stephanie Kuhl, and Iowa native, is a 2007 graduate of South Dakota State University with a degree in health, physical education and recreation. After SDSU, Kuhl went on to pursue her Master of Arts degree at Wayne State where she also was the graduate assistant coach for their softball team.
Kuhl has enjoyed NW and really appreciates the family atmosphere it has to offer.
“Everywhere you go someone has a smile and says hi. Everyone is very welcoming and genuinely happy to be here.”
Kuhl is determined to have a great year. “All the girls have a great work ethic and give 100 percent,” she said. “We have only worked a couple weeks together, but the improvements are outstanding.”
She will be assisted by Barry Brandt, Dave Hulsart and Elijah Vander Weerdt.
The women’s soccer team is now led by Blake Wieking, a 2008 NW graduate who resides in Sioux Center with his wife Kari. Before returning to NW, Wieking substitute taught and coached track for the Sioux Center Community School District.
Wieking loves the community on campus and the positive atmosphere that the students provide. Aside from the general student atmosphere, Wieking is very impressed by the relationships that teammates form, and how they make them last “well after their playing days have ended.”
The positive attitude that Wieking brings is a sure sign of his dedication to the team.
“I am excited to begin my coaching career at Northwestern and in a sport that I love to play and teach. I am ready to begin to rebuild and continue to build a quality soccer program and work with the players who want to excel.”
Wieking is assisted by Sara Nessa and Morgan Swier.