Coach Kratch is entering his first year as the Tritons' Head Coach. Prior to Iowa Central, Kratch was a long-time Iowa State staff member as their linebacker coach (2024-2025), assistant director of player personnel (2018-2022), and a graduate assistant in 2017. Kratch spent 2024 as the linebacker coach for North Texas before returning to Iowa State. Before his arrival in Ames, Kratch spent two years (2015-2016) as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, working primarily with the offensive line.

Kratch's linebacker group in 2024 helped the Cyclone defense allow just 22.9 points per contest. Iowa State gave up fewer than 20 points in six games, tied for the second-most games among Big 12 teams. Iowa State's five recruiting classes during Kratch's initial Cyclone tenure ranked among the nation's Top 50 according to 247Sports, including the 2022 group which is considered the best recruiting class in school history, as both 247Sports and Rivals listed it in the Top 25 nationally. In his time at Michigan State, the Spartans won the Big Ten Championship, compiled a 12-2 record, and qualified for the College Football Playoff in his first season in East Lansing (2015).

A native of Watertown, Minnesota, Kratch was a three-year letterwinner in football and hockey at Watertown-Mayer High School and was all-conference in football as a senior. Kratch was a two-year letterwinner at tight end for Toledo (2011-12) after playing for North Dakota State College of Science from 2009-2010. He earned his bachelor's degree in broadcasting from the University of Toledo in 2013 and was an offensive graduate assistant in 2013 for Matt Campbell's coaching staff and an offensive intern for the Rockets in 2014. Colby and his wife, Taylor, have a daughter, Colbie, and a son, Dash.

Kratch's father, Bob Kratch, played eight years in the NFL for the New York Giants and New England Patriots and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection at Iowa (1986 and 1988).