Feb. 19, 2008

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University head coach Dale Lennon completed his coaching staff today, hiring Kenni Burns and Steve Crutchley. Burns will coach the tight ends and Crutchley will coach the running backs.

A native of Springfield, Ill., Burns spent the last year as running backs coach at Millersville University. He played four years at Indiana University before joining the coaching ranks in 2007.

Burns lettered three years as a running back at Indiana, where he garnered the team's Iron Man Award following spring drills in 2004.

Prior to IU, Burns attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, where he was a three-time all-state performer and the first-ever sophomore to receive all-state honors. He also garnered numerous All-American awards as a senior.

"Kenni has already made a positive impression in the coaching ranks. He is a young coach with a very bright future," said Lennon.

Crutchley comes to SIU after spending the last five years at St. Cloud State.

He joined the St. Cloud State staff as the wide receivers coach in 2002 and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2007. Crutchley also worked as the wide receivers coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he was a three-year starter on the Blugoids' football team and conference champion in track and field.

"Steve brings a strong college coaching background to the staff and will be a positive addition offensively as the running backs coach," said Lennon.