KNPE alumni accomplishments

Congratulations to these Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education alums!

Kris Cassie
Kris Cassie

Kris Cassie, B.S.Ed. Physical Education, ’01, and M.S.Ed. Educational Administration, ’06, is the new varsity football coach at Sandwich High School. He was an assistant football coach during his first 10 years at Sandwich, including as linebackers coach on the 2010 Class 4A state semifinal squad. He then held the role of athletics director from 2011 to 2014 before serving on former coach Chris Van Dyke’s staff as linebackers coach from 2015 to 2017. Cassie also has been an assistant wrestling coach while teaching Physical Education throughout his 17 years in Sandwich.

Jake Kuthe
Jake Kuthe

Jake Kuthe, B.S. Kinesiology, ’15, was hired as a fitness specialist at Friendship Village senior living community in Schaumburg. To encourage residents to become, and stay, physically active, Kuthe co-leads almost 160 fitness offerings. These include Sit and Fit and Forever Fit, which meet the needs of beginning and intermediate participants, respectively; Better Balance I and II, which accommodate residents’ varying abilities; aquatic classes such as Aqua Express, Water Walking and Joyful Joints; and Forever Fit Plus, focusing on standing aerobic and strength movements with a rotation of 20 different exercise stations.

Jordan Lynch
Jordan Lynch

Jordan Lynch, B.S. Kinesiology, ’13, is the new head football coach at his alma mater of Mount Carmel High School. He returns home to Mount Carmel after one season as an assistant coach with Rod Carey and the NIU Huskies football team. The Heisman Trophy finalist and quarterback of NIU’s Orange Bowl team also played professionally for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

Morgan Noll
Morgan Noll

Morgan Noll, M.S.Ed. Kinesiology and Physical Education, ’17,  is a fitness specialist at Friendship Village senior living community in Schaumburg. She leads water- and land-based classes, including the Forever Fit aerobics program. The former physical and occupational therapy technician brings previous experience working with seniors to Friendship Village, which offers 160 fitness programs that focus on dexterity, strength, balance, mobility and just plain fun. “If participants are having fun in fitness,” Noll says, “they will be more willing to share their experiences and bring others with them.”

If you’re a KNPE grad with news to share, please let us know – and send a photo! Our email address is NIUCOEalum@niu.edu.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email