Cody Cruzen joined Denison University in March 2023 as the teams Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach, and was promoted to Defensive Coordinator in July 2023 before beginning his first season. He brings 13 years of collegiate coaching experience which includes stints at the D1, D2 and D3 levels.
Before coming to Denison, Cruzen was at Ohio Northern University for three years. In 2022, Cruzen was the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. Cruzen coached a pair of all-conference players in the secondary including safety Dalton Tjong, who led the OAC in tackles and tied for first in interceptions on the season. As a whole, the ONU secondary had five players with at least two interceptions on the season. In his first two seasons, Cruzen coached the wide receivers and was the team's Special Teams Coordinator. During the 2021 season, Cruzen coached a pair of all-conference wide receivers. Austin Eick was second in the league with 1,037 yards and was first in touchdowns (12). Chase Rose finished fifth in received yards with 817 and tied for second in touchdowns (10). As a whole, four ONU wide receivers finished in the top-30 in catches, five finished in the top-30 in yards and four finished in the top-15 in touchdowns. During the shortened 2021 Spring season, both Chase Rose and Austin Eick were also all-conference selections. Both finished in the top-five for wide receivers in the conference. Eick finished the shortened season with 20 catches for 370 yards and four touchdowns while Rose finished with 12 catches for 288 yards and four touchdowns.
Cruzen was in New Hampshire at Division II Saint Anselm College (N.H.) during the 2018 season where he was the team’s defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator. During his time out east, he coached a pair of all-conference selections in the secondary and on special teams. Safety Ryan Sullivan finished the season as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in the NE-10.
Before going to Saint Anselm, Cruzen was at Muskingum University where he served as defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for the Muskies. He led a defensive group that was in the top of the OAC and in 2017, the Muskie defense led the OAC in takeaways. Prior to his stint in New Concord, Cruzen was a graduate assistant for Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Cruzen spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons coaching the secondary at the University of Dayton. He helped the Flyers compile 18 wins in 23 games. During the 2015 season, the Flyers won the PFL Championship and earned an automatic berth in the FCS Playoffs. He coached two First Team All-Pioneer Football League selections in addition to the PFL Special Teams Player of the Year.
At Tiffin during the 2013 season, Cruzen assisted a defensive unit that ranked second in interceptions in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Cruzen got his start in coaching in 2011 at Ohio Northern. For two seasons he coached in the secondary mainly focusing on the safeties.
In his time coaching prior to Denison, Cruzen has coached 20 all-conference selections, three All-Americans and four future NFL players. He has also recruited Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, South Florida and Texas.
A 2011 graduate from Ohio Northern, Cruzen was a four-year student-athlete at safety and was a part of the nationally-ranked squad as a senior, ranking eighth in the national polls. He helped the team allow only 156.5 passing yards per game in 2010 en route to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Cruzen earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education from Ohio Northern University.
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