Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Athletics

Zach Crissup is entering his 4th season as the Head Coach of the Golden Norsemen in the Fall of 2023.  

Crissup was named the 23rd Head Coach in the history of Golden Norsemen Football on September 10, 2020. This was upon completion of his 7th season as a member of the Golden Norsemen coaching staff. Crissup spent two years as the Defensive Coordinator in his second stint at NEO where he previously coached linebackers and coordinated strength and conditioning.

The Spring 2021 season was Crissup’s first as head coach. The Golden Norsemen played 5 games right down to the wire to start off the season. Coming up short by an average of a touchdown per game; 4 of which the average difference was only a field goal. The NEO Defense gathered much recognition as the Conference’s best. Defensive Lineman Damien Lowery was voted SWJCFC player of the year. Lowery and defensive back Kobe Hylton were both named to NJCAA  All-American lists with Lowery being on the first team and Hylton being selected as Honorable Mention.

2019 NEO Defense was very exciting to watch. The Norsemen lead the SWJCFC in multiple categories including total yardage per game, interceptions, passing yards per game, and turnovers.

The 2018 Golden Norse Defense was one of the SWJCFC's best, boasting two All-Americans (Gervarrius Owens, Taquelin Harris) and leading the team to a second straight Conference title game. Eight Players off the 2018 defense signed to play at the Division 1 level.

In 2017, Crissup spent one year as an assistant coach on the football staff at Missouri Southern. Crissup was responsible for coaching the defensive secondary for the Lions.

Prior to Southern, Crissup coached two seasons at Fairmont State University as the Defensive Coordinator and was part of a historic turnaround for the Fighting Falcons football team in 2016 where they had their first 10-win season in school history and their first NCAA playoff berth.

Crissup helped lead a defense that ranked in the top 25 nationally in multiple categories and held three opposing offenses to zero touchdowns during the season. It also led the MEC in turnovers (30) and interceptions (21). FSU's defense held opposing quarterbacks to a 48.6% completion percentage.

In his first season Crissup helped lead the FSU defense to marked improvement finishing in the top five in the league in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense and total defense. However, one of the biggest improvements was the team’s ability to force turnovers with 23 on the year. The Falcons led the Mountain East Conference in turnover margin in 2015.

Crissup arrived at Fairmont State following his stint as linebackers and strength coach at NEO from January 2010 to December 2014.In his time with the Golden Norsemen, Crissup coached under Head coach Dale Patterson, Sherard Poteete, and Ryan Held respectively. Crissup also worked under defensive coordinators James Cheatham and Zach Allen. In 2012, Crissup helped lead NEO to a 9-2 overall record.

Prior to his coaching career, Crissup was a safety under Coach Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State. Crissup also played under Defensive Coordinator Tim Beckman and safeties coach Joe DeForest.

Crissup is originally from Helena, Okla. and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education from Oklahoma State in December of 2008. He continued his education at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS, earning a Master’s of Science in Health and Human Performance in December of 2011.

Crissup and his wife Stephanie have one son, Patch.