Winona State University Men's Football

Follow Coach Curtin on Twitter: @Coach_Curtin_1 Brian Curtin has been appointed the Head Coach for the Football team ahead of the 2025 season after being on the Warrior sideline for over 20 years.  Curtin tutors WSU wide receivers while also serving as the team's special teams coordinator. Curtin joined the Winona Staff football staff in 1997 and has served in a variety of roles, mostly as the defensive coordinator. Curtin has helped the Warriors to eight NSIC Championships, as well as three NSIC South Division crowns. WSU has advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs seven times since Curtin’s arrival while also playing in three Mineral Water Bowls. Curtin’s defenses have been a major part in the Warriors’ success. Building their team around a stingy, ball-hawking unit, Curtin helped tutor five consecutive NSIC Defensive Players of the Year. A Warrior claimed the honor from 2002-2006, with Curtin personally coaching safety John Tackmann to the award in 2005 and 2006. Tackmann was an All-American under Curtin’s watchful eye in 2005 and 2006. He also coached Jamey Hutchinson to First Team All-American honors in 1997. Curtin coached the 2018 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and Don Hansen Super Region 5 Defensive Player of the Year - Andrew Spencer. Cornerback Isaiah Hall was also named an All-American under his watch in 2018. Curtin has helped the Warriors to six seasons of 10 or more victories and 13 campaigns in which the team won at least eight games. His defenses also helped the team compile a 35-game home conference winning streak that began in 1999 and stretched through the end of the 2008 season. Since joining the WSU staff, Curtin has helped tutor defensive units that led the NSIC in turnover margin (five times), scoring defense (three times), total defense (twice), rush defense and passing efficiency defense. Both Ryan Williams and Chris Norgaard earned All-Conference honors in 2012, with Norgaard also gaining All-Region accolades as WSU went 10-2 and won the Mineral Water Bowl. Curtin played football at Winona State and was a member of the 1993 NSIC Championship team. That squad went 7-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play to earn the only NAIA Playoff bid in school history. The Warriors repeated as NSIC Champions in 1994, posting a 7-3-1 overall record and 5-0-1 mark in league play. Curtin graduated from Winona State University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Social Science and History. He also earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Winona State University. Curtin lives in Winona with his wife Sarah and their two children, Caitlin and Patrick.

AT WINONA STATE  Joined the Winona State football staff as the Outside Linebackers Coach in March, 2025.   BEFORE WINONA STATE Eastern New Mexico University (NM) – Defensive Line Coach (2025) Logan High School (UT) – Linebackers / Special Teams Coordinator / Interim Defensive Coordinator (2024) 6 blocked punts 15 blocked PAT’s/Field Goals Coached 1 Herald Journal All-Valley team LB Utah State University (UT) – Student Assistant (2021-2024) 2021 Mountain West Champions 2022 First Responders Bowl Appearance 2023 Idaho Potato Bowl Appearance   PLAYING EXPERIENCE 3 year varsity starter at Raymond High School (2015-2018) All region DL/OL (2018)   PERSONAL Native of Raymond, Alberta Resides in Winona, Minn.

AT WINONA STATE Hired as the Winona State Football QB’s Coach in July PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR  2024 Mentored 2nd team all-conference QB Mentored 1st and 2nd team all-conference WR’s Mentored single season rushing leader in program history / single game rushing leader in program history Mentored career leader in receiving yards and receiving TD’s in program history 2023 Mentored 1st team all-conference WR 2022 Mentored unanimous GLVC player of the year (QB) Mentored Harlon Hill Semi-Finalist (QB) Quarterback led the country in total offense, pass completions, and pass attempts Quarterback ranked 3rd in the country in completion percentage and pass yards Quarterback ranked 4th in the country in points responsible for Quarterback ranked 5th in the country in pass TD’s Mentored 4 first team all-conference players (QB, RB, 2 WR’s) Mentored career leader in receptions in program history Mentored single season receptions leader and single season receiving yards leader in program history – 2 different guys BEFORE WINONA STATE McKendree University (2021-2024) – Associate Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, QB Coach 2024 Promoted to Associate Head Coach Averaged 427 yards / game – 2nd in GLVC – 25th in the country Finished 11th in the country in first downs gained Finished 14th in the country in time of possession Mentored the leading passer in the GLVC – 17th in the country Recruited and Mentored the single season rushing leader / single game rushing leader in program history – 8th in the country Recruited and Mentored the career leader in receiving yards and receiving TD’s in program history Mentored the 2 leaders in receptions in the GLVC 2023 Appeared in post-season play for 1st time in program history – America’s Crossroads Bowl Finished 2nd in GLVC – highest finish since 2017 Averaged 28.4 points / game in league play – 3rd in GLVC 2022 Mentored 2022 GLVC Unanimous Offensive Player of the Year and Harlon Hill Semi-Finalist - QB Lead country in: total offense, pass completions, pass attempts Rank in country - 70.3% Comp (3rd), 3,541 Pass Yards (3rd), Points Resp For (4th), 30 Pass TD’s (5th) Mentored 4 1st team all-league selections (QB, 2 WR’s, RB) Averaged 455 yards / game -, 1st in GLVC, 13th in country Averaged 35.8 points / game - 2nd in GLVC, 22nd in country Averaged 321.9 pass yards / game - 1st in GLVC, 3rd in country Converted 51% on 3rd Down - 1st in GLVC, 5th in country Accumulated 268 1st Downs - 1st in GLVC, 6th in country Broke Single Season School Records: Total Yards / Points / TD’s, Passing Yards / Comp / Att / TD’s, 1st Dns, 3rd Dn % Broke Individual Single Season School Records: Receptions (100), Receiving Yards (1,144) - 2 different guys   Eastern Michigan University (2019-2021) – Graduate Assistant – Wide Receivers Appeared in a bowl game for the 4th time in school history (2019 Quick Lane Bowl) University of Wisconsin – Whitewater (2018-2019) – Graduate Assistant – Wide Receivers University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (2015-2018) – Student Assistant – (DB / WR / RB) PLAYING EXPERIENCE Played Safety at UW – La Crosse from 2013 - 2015 PERSONAL Native of Watertown, Wisconsin Married to Kensley with one daughter: Ruelle Resides in Goodview, Minn.

  AT WINONA STATE Joined the Winona State staff as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach in March 2026. BEFORE WINONA STATE Northwestern State University Defensive Backs Coach (2025 – 2026) Ended the nation’s longest losing streak with a debut win in 2025. Improved all defensive pass statistics Arkansas Tech University Defensive Coordinator (2023-2025) Lead a Defensive unit top 3 finish statistically in conference in 2024. Mentored seven All conference selections including six in 2024. Oversaw a defense making improvements in all major defensive statistical categories. Top 30 Finishes Nationally in Pass Defense (6th), 4th Down Defense (T19), Def TDs (T27), Def Pass Efficiency (26th). Colorado State University – Defensive Back Coach, Co-Special Teams Coordinator (2022) Helped lead CSUP to a postseason appearance in 2022. Mentored first team D2CCA and AP All-American Daniel Bone. Mentored multiple first-time starters to the 1st team all-RMAC team. Defense ranked second nationally in interceptions, fourth in yards per completion, top 20 in turnovers gained and passing yards per attempt. Coordinated the top Kickoff, Kick Return, and Punt Return units in the RMAC. Coached First Team All-American (Daniel Bone) Oregon State University (2018 – 2022) Helped OSU Improve from one win in 2017 to seven wins and a post season appearance in 2021. Defense ranked top 3 in the PAC12 in scoring defense, total defense, Pass Yards/game, Rush Yds/game, and Interceptions in 2021. Coached First Team All-American in 2019 (Hamilcar Rashed Jr) Montana State University (2017- 2018) Helped MSU Improve from 3 in 2016 to 8 wins in 2018. PLAYING EXPERIENCE Played at University of Hawaii from 2011-2012 Played at University of Montana from 2013-2015 Two Year Starter at Montana 2 time All-Big Sky Linebacker Over 300 career Tackles   PERSONAL Native of Bellevue, Washington Married to Shannon Van Ackeren with one child: Khalil

AT WINONA STATE Joined the Warrior coaching staff in July 2024. Defensive Line Coach (2024-present) 1st in NSIC and 13th in DII in sacks with 34 in 2025. 1st in NSIC redzone defense in 2025. 2nd in NSIC and 30th in DII in TFLs in 2025. 3rd in NSIC in rush defense in 2025. Averaged 2.18 sacks per game in 2024. Averaged 5.5 TFL per game in 2024. 23rd nationally in blocked field goals in 2024. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Coached two First Team All-NSIC player Kyjuan Vengrowsky (2024) Conner Haggerty (2025) Coached eight Academic All-NSIC student-athletes Kyjuan Vengrowsky (2024) David Nies (2024) Conner Haggerty (2024) Morgan McKnight (2024) Ethan Trogrimson (2024) Bronson Schofield (2024) Carson Thompson (2024) Joe Demro (2024) BEFORE WINONA STATE Colorado State University – Pueblo – Defensive Ends Coach (2022-2023) Highest Team GPA in School History – 3.31 (2023) Coached 2 All-RMAC Defensive Ends (2023) Helped Coach All-American DT Trey Botts (2022) 9th Nationally in Sacks (36 Total) 22nd Nationally in Red Zone Defense 20th Nationally in Tackles for Loss (82) 15th Nationally in Turnovers (24) Combined 16-7 Overall Record during his tenure Calloway County High School (KY) - Linebackers (2021) Coached one 1st Team All-Conference Player Mullen High School - Linebackers (2020) Coached two 1st Team All-Conference Players Coached one 1st Team All-State Player D’evelyn High School - Linebackers (2015-2019) Coached eight 1st Team All-Conference Players Coached four 1st Team All-State Players PLAYING EXPERIENCE Played at University of Northern Colorado from 2009-2011 All-State linebacker as a prep athlete (2007, 2008, 2009) PERSONAL Native of Denver, Colo. Married to Melissa Tuley Resides in Winona

AT WINONA STATE Joined the Winona State staff as the Offensive Line coach in March 2026. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 5 GLVC All-Conference selections 3 SAA All-Conference selections BEFORE WINONA STATE McKendree University (May 2022 – January 2026) Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach Fall of 2025 Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach 2022 – 2024 season 2024 School Individual Season Rushing Record 2022 Broke Multiple Single Season Offensive Records 5 GLVC All-Conference selections   Berry College (June 2021 – May 2022) Offensive Line Coach Averaged 35.7 points per game Averaged 191 rushing yards per game Broke Single season yards per rush & rushing TD’s records 3 SAA All-Conference selections Eastern Michigan (March 2019 – May 2021) Offensive Line Graduate Assistant Lawrence Tech University (July 2017 – February 2019) Offensive Line Coach Assisted in Starting Program from ground-up Loras College (January 2014 – July 2017) Tight Ends Coach July 2016 – July 2017 Running Backs Coach (January 2014 – July 2016) PLAYING EXPERIENCE Played at Loras College 2009 – 2012 Four-Year Starter on the Offensive Line 2012 IIAC All-Conference Selection   PERSONAL Native of Pecatonica, Illinois Resides in Winona

AT WINONA STATE Joined the Winona State staff as the Wide Receivers coach in March 2026. BEFORE WINONA STATE University of Idaho (2022 – 2025) Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2025 Wide Receivers 2022 – 2024 Tutored an All-American wide receiver in 2023 (Hayden Hatten) Missouri (2021) Graduate Assistant – Quarterbacks / Wide Receivers San Diego State (2020) Graduate Assistant Quarterbacks PLAYING EXPERIENCE Played at Idaho from 2014-2017 Holds the Vandals record for career attempts and completions, second for yards, third for yards per game, and fifth in touchdowns. Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference 2016 Potato Bowl MVP Played professionally with the Salt Lake Stallions in 2019.

AT WINONA STATE  Joined the Winona State football staff as the Running Back’s Coach in March, 2025  BEFORE WINONA STATE  University of Dubuque Graduate Assistant and Film Coordinator (2023-2025)  Coached DL in first year with the program and moved to RB for the second year. PLAYING EXPERIENCE  Played TE at Augustana College (Rock Island, IL)  PERSONAL  Native of Carol Stream, IL.  Graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelor's in history in 2019.  Graduated from University of Dubuque in 2025 with a Master’s in Sports Marketing and Management  Resides in Winona with his Dog Baloo.