University of Chicago Men's Football

Daniel Gallagher enters his 1st year as the Offensive Coordinator for the University of Chicago football program in the 2025-26 academic year. Gallagher arrives in Hyde Park following a successful stint at Colby College, where he served as Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends/Running Backs Coach. He joined Colby in the summer of 2024 and quickly made an impact, helping elevate the Mules' special teams efficiency and developing versatile offensive playmakers. Before Colby, Gallagher spent two seasons at Stonehill College (2022–2023), coaching tight ends and assisting with special teams. In 2023, he mentored standout tight end Noah Canty, who led all Northeast Conference (NEC) tight ends in receptions and receiving yards per game en route to All-Conference honors. Stonehill's offense ranked among the league's best, averaging 31 points and 208 rushing yards per game while leading the NEC in both third- and fourth-down conversion rates in 2022. Gallagher also made notable contributions at Millikin University during the 2021 season, coaching both wide receivers and defensive backs. He played a pivotal role in the development of All-American wideout Colton Lockwood, who averaged 100 receiving yards per game and scored 10 touchdowns. That season, Millikin had three wide receivers rank in the CCIW's top 10 for yards per game. In 2020 and the spring of 2021, Gallagher coached at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, working with both linebackers and wide receivers. His kickoff return unit was among the nation's best in Division III, and multiple athletes earned All-HCAC honors, including receiver Adam Tice-Saliu and returner Jalien Hobbs, who ranked second nationally in kickoff return average. Earlier in his career, Gallagher was part of a successful campaign at Washington & Jefferson College in 2019. Coaching defensive backs and coordinating strength and conditioning, he helped the team to an 8–3 record and a win in the Asa S. Bushnell Bowl. His efforts helped defensive back Joey Koroly earn All-America honors as a return specialist and All-Conference recognition as a defensive back. Gallagher's coaching career began in 2017 at his alma mater, Alfred University, where he worked with wide receivers and special teams. He also had a strong showing as defensive backs coach at the University of Rochester in 2018. That year, Rochester led the Liberty League in fewest passing yards allowed and tied a school record with six interceptions in a single game. As a student-athlete, Gallagher played for Alfred University during the program's 2016 run to a 12–1 record, an Empire 8 championship, and an NCAA Division III quarterfinal appearance. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Education and later earned a master's degree in Sport Management from Indiana State University.

Erik Karlson enters his first year as the Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach for the football program at the University of Chicago in the 2025-26 academic year. Karlson arrives in Hyde Park from Union College in New York where he spent the 2024 season working with the outside linebackers. Prior to his time at Union College, Karlson spent three seasons at Worcester State University where he spent the past three seasons working as an assistant coach, working primarily with the defensive line and linebackers. He also handled special teams duties at both prior stops. Karlson also spent two seasons coaching in the high school ranks in 2019 and 2020 at Hudson High School and Clinton High School in Massachusetts. Karlson graduated from Springfield College in 2019 with degrees in Mathematics and Education, and he played four years as an offensive lineman for the Pride.