Crusader Football Camps
Head Coach Dale Carlson

Dale Carlson was named the 16th head football coach in Crusader history on January 14, 2010.

Carlson arrived at Valpo from Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, where he guided the Panthers to a 36-27 record over the past six seasons, including 7-3 marks each of the last two years.  The 2009 season marked his 21st year as a collegiate head coach overall, where he has posted a 110-103-3 career mark.

At Ohio Dominican, Carlson began the program prior to the 2004 season.  He led the Panthers to an undefeated regular season in 2007 and a Mid-States Football Association-Mideast League championship.  ODU went on to defeat The Cumberlands in the NAIA playoffs before finishing the season 12-1 overall.  The Panthers’ offense led all of college football averaging more than 50 points per game, while leading NAIA with more than 550 yards of total offense in that same season.

In six years at Ohio Dominican, he has produced five All-Americans, seven Academic All-Americans, and more than 90 All-Conference performers.  This season he was named the NAIA Independent Coach of the Year while earning MSFA-Mideast League Coach of the Year honors in 2007.  He also earned American Football Coaches Association Region II and American Football Monthly/Schutt Sports NAIA National Coach of the Year honors in 2007.

Prior to his stint at Ohio Dominican, Carlson spent eight seasons as the head football coach at Tri-State University in Angola, Ind.  Here he also began the intercollegiate football program, leading the school to 11 victories in 1998.  That same season he led the Thunder to the NAIA semifinals and a number three ranking nationally in the final NAIA poll.  He also led Tri-State to the Mideast Conference championship in 2001, the same season he was named league’s Coach of the Year.

Carlson has also spent four seasons as the head coach at Taylor University in Upland, Ind. as well as three seasons at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis.  He began his collegiate coaching as the offensive line coach at ElmhurstCollege and also served as an assistant coach at Franklin College and Grand Valley State University prior to his first head coaching position.

A linebacker in college, Carlson earned his Bachelor of Arts at Concordia University-Chicago majoring in physical education while earning a Master of Science in Education from Chicago State University.

Carlson is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and served as the president of the NAIA Football Coaches Association in 2001 and 2002.