GRAND FORKS — The UND football program lost its running backs coach this offseason to another team within the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Fighting Hawks will fill that role by also pulling in a coach from within the league.
UND has hired Western Illinois running backs coach Donnell Kirkwood Jr. to coach the Fighting Hawks' running backs, the school announced Tuesday.
Kirkwood fills the role vacated by Steve Crutchley, who left to coach the wide receivers at North Dakota State.
"He played running back at the FBS level and will bring that experience along with an exceptional understanding of teaching skills needed to excel at that position," UND coach Bubba Schweigert said. "He has a strong knowledge of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and experience recruiting in our prime recruiting areas."
ADVERTISEMENT
Prior to coaching running backs at Western Illinois, Kirkwood spent two seasons as the running backs coach and player experience coordinator at Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D.
UND defensive line coach Austin Flyger was the defensive coordinator at Northern State in 2019 under then-Northern State head coach Tom Dosch, who works for the UND Alumni Association and Foundation and was the Fighting Hawks' radio analyst last season.
Kirkwood played for five seasons at the University of Minnesota, seeing action in 53 games. In his sophomore year with the Gophers, Kirkwood led Minnesota with 218 carries for 926 yards and six touchdowns.
Kirkwood is a Delray Beach, Fla., native.
The Trust Project
