Kyle Achterhoff

Head Coach

Achterhoff was hired in February of 2009 as the new head coach at Northwestern College. Chosen from a pool of approximately 100 applicants from across the country, Achterhoff is just the third head coach since 1967, following Larry Korver and Orv Otten.

A 1990 Northwestern College graduate, Coach Achterhoff has been with the Red Raider football program for the last 11 years as either the offensive or defensive coordinator. During his tenure, he helped guide Northwestern to an 83-35 record and three national playoff appearances. As the Raiders’ defensive coordinator from 1998-2000, Achterhoff coached five defensive All-Americans. In 1998, he led a Northwestern defense that ranked eighth in the NAIA in total defense, giving up 272 yards per game. In 2000, he was in charge of a defense that helped lead the Raiders to the Final Four.

As offensive coordinator, a role he held for the past eight seasons, Achterhoff was in charge of an offense that was one of the nation’s best. In 2003, he guided a Raider offense that led the Great Plains Athletic Conference in scoring and ranked 10th in the nation at 35.8 points per game. In 2005, the Raiders ranked 10th in the NAIA in scoring with 32.5 points; the 2006 offense ranked fifth in the nation, scoring just under 37 points per game. In 2003 and 2006, Northwestern reached the quarterfinal round of the NAIA football championship series. Achterhoff coached eight All-Americans during his time as offensive coordinator.

“I am very excited to lead the Red Raider football program and to continue the tradition started by my coach, Larry Korver, a tradition of excellence that continued through the tenure of Orv Otten,” comments Achterhoff. “Our ultimate goal in the Red Raider football program is to develop champions on and off the field—to help young men develop into great husbands, fathers and members of society. We want to develop men of integrity and at the same time be the best football team that we can possibly be.”

Before his coaching tenure began at Northwestern, Achterhoff served as the defensive coordinator and the secondary coach for two years at Dakota State (S.D.). His unit led the SDIC conference in sacks in 1997, and he coached four all-conference players that year. Achterhoff was also the strength and conditioning coordinator while at Dakota State. Prior to Dakota State, Achterhoff was the defensive secondary coach at Northwest Missouri State, where he was part of the biggest turn-around in school history, taking over a program that went 0-11 in 1994 and helping lead them to a 6-5 record in 1995.

Achterhoff and his wife, Amy, have two children, Sarah and Ethan. Amy is an elementary school teacher at Kinsey Elementary in Sioux Center.