Jan. 4, 2007

LINDSBORG, Kan. - Jamie Cruce, Lindsborg, Kan., has been named head football coach at Bethany College. Cruce has served as assistant football coach and defensive coordinator for the Swedes since 2001.

"We are pleased to promote one of our alumni to lead the team, and we're excited about the promise of Jamie's leadership for the football program," said Bethany athletic director Jon Daniels.

Swede defenses have put up impressive numbers under Cruce's leadership. In 2006, Bethany was ranked fourth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in pass defense (99.5 ypg). The Swedes were ranked second in the NAIA in pass defense (125.6 ypg) in 2005 and ranked fifth in the NAIA in pass defense (131.1 ypg) in 2004. In 2004 Cruce's defense ranked first in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) in scoring defense. For Cruce's first year with the Swedes in 2001, the team earned a conference championship.

Prior to Bethany, Cruce served as a graduate assistant football coach at Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D.; assistant football coach at Anderson University, Ind.; and as a student assistant coach at Bethany.

Cruce holds a master's degree in physical education from Northern State University and a bachelor's degree in behavioral science teaching from Bethany. He graduated from Salina High School South in 1994.

As an athlete, Cruce played football at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to Bethany. He was a linebacker on Bethany's 1995 and 1996 KCAC championship teams. He captained the team and earned All-KCAC honors in 1997. During Cruce's time as a student-athlete at Bethany, the Swede football team was 25-5 overall with a 22-2 conference record.

The Swedes were 2-8 for the 2005 and 2006 seasons under then head coach Tony Johnson.

The rich tradition of Bethany College football dates to 1893. In the past 30 years, the Swedes have finished 22 seasons ranked in the top 25 NAIA or NAIA-II teams. In the past 15 years, they have won eight conference championships.

Bethany College competes in 15 intercollegiate sports in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Since 1902, Bethany has won 140 conference championships.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they live lives of faith, learning and service.