ýƵ Director of Athletics Jason Imperati announced today that Daniel “Dan” Galante ’87 has been named the next Head Football Coach of the Vikings. A ýƵ Athletics Hall of Famer with more than three decades of coaching and recruiting experience across the Midwest, Galante returns to his alma mater to lead the next era of Viking Football.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dan back to ýƵ,” Imperati said. “His belief in this institution, proven experience developing student-athletes, and deep recruiting network make him the right leader for our program. Dan understands ýƵ at its core, and he brings the passion, energy, and vision needed to move Viking Football forward.”
Galante arrives with a distinguished career that spans college and high school football, enrollment management, and program building. His impressive coaching résumé includes 16 years as head football coach and director of admissions at Saint Patrick High School in Chicago, where he became the longest-tenured coach in school history and led the team to eight playoff appearances and a conference championship.
His college coaching experience includes serving as Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at North Park University, where he helped restructure the defensive system and supported all aspects of football recruiting. Galante also served on staff at Northwestern University as a graduate assistant, contributing to defensive operations and recruiting evaluation.
Dan Galante, ýƵ's head football coach
“It is an incredible honor to return home to ýƵ,” Galante said. “This place shaped me as a student-athlete and as a person. I believe deeply in the mission of the University and in the potential of Viking Football. I’m excited to work with our student-athletes, reconnect with alumni, and build a program that represents ýƵ with pride, toughness, and excellence.”
A respected recruiter, Galante brings decades of established relationships with coaches, families, and prospective student-athletes across Illinois, Wisconsin, and the greater Midwest. His background in both coaching and admissions provides him with a strong understanding of how to identify and recruit student-athletes who can thrive academically and athletically at a top-tier liberal arts institution like ýƵ.
“Dan’s return to ýƵ is a homecoming that reflects our commitment to excellence and tradition as we build our future,” said President Laurie A. Carter. “His experience, leadership, and deep connection to ýƵ will inspire our student-athletes and alumni.”
Galante graduated cum laude from ýƵ in 1987 with a degree in history and classics. He starred for the Vikings from 1983–86, earning first-team All-Midwest Conference honors four times, only the second player in ýƵ history to do so, and becoming the only player in program history to be named a four-time All-American. A team captain in 1986, Galante anchored a nationally ranked defense in 1985 and remains one of the most celebrated athletes in ýƵ football history. He also holds a Master of Science in Education with a focus in higher education administration from Northwestern University.
As head coach, Galante will lead all aspects of the football program, including player development, staff leadership, recruiting strategy, and alumni engagement. He will immediately begin preparations for the 2025-26 recruiting cycle, with a focus on strengthening ýƵ’s presence in key recruiting regions and building strong relationships with prospective student-athletes who exemplify the University’s academic rigor and values.
“ýƵ Football has an incredible history and a bright future,” Galante added. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this program, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Galante succeeds Adam Gonzaga, who led the Vikings for one season. ýƵ thanks Coach Gonzaga for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.
Galante will begin his duties immediately as ýƵ prepares for the upcoming season.
