Primary Recruiting Areas: Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia
Dan Curran will be entering his 11th season as the Head Coach of the Merrimack College Football program in 2023.
Curran, who is the all-time wins leader in program history has led a successful transition to the Division-I level culminating with a spot in the 2022 NEC Conference Championship game and a record tying eight wins on the season. The 2022 season also included a seven-game win streak along with receiving top 25 votes for four consecutive weeks in a row in just the programs third full season at the Division-I level.
Merrimack’s 2022 offense finished 3rd in points per game in the conference and first in touchdowns scored while its defense finished 2nd in the conference in total defense and number 2 in the country in passing efficiency. They also had 9 All Conference selections this past fall in addition to 3 All New England performers. The All Conference selections were led by Freshman All American Wide Receiver/Punt Returner Jacari Carter who was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award as well as Quarterback Westin Elliott who broke the conference record for touchdowns thrown in a season. Other honorees include All New England performers Tight End Tyler Roberts, Offensive Lineman Clay Legault and All Conference Performers Linebacker Rodney Samson, Defensive Lineman Nick Lenon, and Defensive Backs Caleb Holden and Darion McKenzie.
The 2021 season which was Merrimack’s Football’s second fall season at the Division-I level included the program's first win against a top 25 opponent defeating Holy Cross 35-21 in Worcester, MA on ESPN.
The 2021 season also included dominant performances against Delaware State by a score of 47-10 and LIU 43-5 both of which were ESPN Showcase games.
The 2019 season marked the program's first year at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision level (FCS) as well as the Warriors' inaugural season in the Northeast Conference (NEC), guiding Merrimack to a 6-5 record becoming one of just a handful of teams to have a winning record in their first year at the Division 1 level. Merrimack led the conference in sacks and ranked among the top three in scoring offense and defense in 2019. Individually, redshirt seniors Marquis Spence and Michael Mercuri were All-New England selections after superb debut seasons at the FCS level.
The spring of 2020 saw 3 more Merrimack Football Alumni sign to the professional ranks continuing the tradition of Merrimack Football getting opportunities to play at the next level. Offensive Lineman Sam Cooper signed with the Baltimore Ravens, Defensive Back Jovan Grant signed with the Los Angeles Rams, and Offensive Lineman Erick Browne signed with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks. Both Browne and Cooper were recruited and developed under Curran’s tutelage and Merrimack’s Offensive Line room. Cooper was also an invitee to the prestigious post season All-Star games; East West Shrine Game, NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and the Hula Bowl representing Merrimack Football on the national stage.
On both sides of the ball, Merrimack proved itself at the FCS level. The Warriors ranked second in the NEC in both scoring offense (31.0 ppg) and scoring defense (21.5 ppg allowed). In total offense and total defense, the Warriors boasted top-three units as well. The team ranked third on both offense (368.3 yards per game) and defense (313.4 yards allowed). In terms of team records, the 2019 season saw Merrimack produce the fourth most rushing yards in season (1,788), score the sixth most points (341), kick the most field goals (10), produce the best kick return yardage average (25.03), collect the third most interceptions (16.0) and sacks (37.0) in school history.
Curran, who was the architect of Merrimack's high-octane offense for three seasons before assuming head coaching duties in 2013, has led the program to several marquee moments over the past eight years, including the school's first victory over a Division I opponent when it defeated reigning Northeast Conference champion and Division I FCS Tournament participant Wagner (2013). Curran also owns signature wins vs Division 2 regional powers LIU (4 of the 5 wins in program history vs LIU) and New Haven (2 of the 3 wins in program history vs New Haven both on the road) as well as a winning record vs old NE-10 rivals Southern Connecticut and Bentley.
In addition to the success on the field, the team has made its presence felt off the field, as well. Under Curran’s guidance, the program was named the Community Service Award winner at the 2014, 2017 and 2018 LEAD Awards for its work with team IMPACT, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Lazarus House, You’re With Us and Lawrence Literacy Night. The football team continues to rank among Merrimack's most active programs in terms of community service hours each academic year.
Under Curran's tutelage, the Warriors have received the four major Northeast-10 end-of-season awards, including two Offensive Players of the Year (Joe Clancy, 2013, Jere Brown, 2015); one Rookie of the Year (Christian Charter, 2018) and one Most Valuable Player (Isaiah Voegeli '13). Curran has also guided 7 All-Americans, nine all-super region selections; and over 50 all-conference honorees.
The 2018 season, which was Curran's sixth as head coach, was one that will be remembered for the historic moments made both on the field and off of it, as the campaign began with the announcement of Merrimack's accepting an invitation to join the Northeast Conference and the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ranks beginning in 2019-20. On the field, Curran and his coaching staff might have put together their best effort yet, as the Warriors overcame several early season injuries and a front-loaded schedule that had them play three of the league's – and region's – top three teams all in the first month of the year.
Instead of wilting, the Warriors responded to that adversity with an incredible second-half run that nearly saw the team run the table from October onward, as Merrimack finished the 2018 season with a .500 record for the 14th time in program history. Merrimack went on to win four of the final five games of the season, with its lone loss coming by a single point. The Warriors won five wins in the NE10 and finished with a winning record in league play for the 12th time in school history, as well. Merrimack earned marquee victories on the road against Bentley, Stonehill and Saint Anselm while closing out its NE10 era with a dominant victory on Senior Day against Southern Connecticut State, which also followed a 14-0 shutout win over American International on Homecoming Weekend.
As the team came together during the second half of 2018, several individual student-athletes began to make their mark among the conference's elite; having 11 all-conference selections, the NE10 Rookie of the Year and an all-region honoree only affirmed that fact, as Merrimack will bring back eight of those individuals to begin the NEC era starting in the fall of 2019. Three graduating seniors -- Cody Demers '19, Jesse Jones '19 and Hunter Sallila '19 -- all were among those all-conference selections and were invited to attend the National Bowl, as well.
Curran's offense finished 2018 producing 244.9 passing yards and 377.1 total yards per game, ranking second and fourth in the league in both categories, respectively. Merrimack was also a top-four team in the NE10 in red zone scoring, converting over 80 percent of its tries. The Warriors eclipsed 100 yards rushing in all but one game, as well as 350 yards of total offense in five of those matches, including two games with 450-plus yards. Merrimack averaged nearly 20 first downs/game (4th/NE10) and converted on more than 44 percent of its third downs, the second-best conversion clip in the league.
In 2017, Curran guided arguably his youngest Merrimack team in his tenure. After nearly upsetting Division 1 Bryant University in back and forth affair in week one, the Warriors stumbled out the gate with a couple of tough losses but were able to put together an impressive second-half turnaround to the season. That turnaround began with a Homecoming Weekend victory over Pace during the grand opening of Merrimack Stadium, keying the Warriors to victories in three of their final five games. After another convincing victory at home over Saint Anselm on Senior Day, Merrimack concluded the year with a second straight road win at perennial power New Haven by a 31-21 score, closing the book on the 2017 campaign with a high note.
The Warriors saw four players garner all-conference recognition for the second straight season at the end of the 2017 campaign, as Curran saw a first team all-league honor on defense and a second team all-league player on offense. Derrick Villard '18 graduated as one of Merrimack's most decorated rushers after a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown senior season, while two-time captain Brian Carroll '18 left his mark as one of Merrimack's top safeties in school history.
Curran's offense ranked second in the league in yards per game (412.9) and rushing yards per game (144.6), as well as first downs per game in 2017. Merrimack was also the only team in the NE10 to produce a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher, as well. Two Warriors -- Class of 2018 graduates Stephen Camarro and Dillon Salva -- participated in the National Bowl after the season, with Salva eventually earning an opportunity to sign with the Washington Football Team (and later the Atlanta Falcons) immediately following the NFL Draft.
Merrimack enjoyed another successful season in Year 3 of Curran's tenure. After being picked eighth to finish eighth in the league preseason coaches' poll, the Warriors responded by finishing in third place with a 6-3 conference record in 2015, just missing out on a spot in the NE-10 Championship Game. The six conference wins were the most in a single season since the 2009 campaign that saw the Warriors win their most recent league title.
After a couple heartbreaking losses earlier in the season, the team rallied by winning six out of their next seven games, highlighted by a four-game winning streak to close out the regular season. The 2015 season marked plenty of firsts for the program, highlighted by the first win in program history down on the blue turf of conference power New Haven. They also notched their first win against perennial contender AIC in over a decade. The 2015 season also marked the first time in program history that the team defeated New Haven, AIC and Southern Connecticut all in the same year -- all of which were on the road. Other highlights from the 2015 campaign included a 41-10 win over conference rival Bentley, as well as a resounding 41-16 victory against Saint Anselm in front of a huge Homecoming Weekend crowd.
Several of Curran's student-athletes were recognized following the 2015 season: Class of 2016 alum Ben Polci was named an All-America Honorable Mention selection, while three total Warriors earned CCA All-Super Region I distinction. Six more were named NE-10 All-Conference selections, and Class of 2016 graduate Jere Brown would also be named the NE-10 Offensive Player of the Year and earn a spot on the New England Football Writers All-New England Team, as well.
After spending the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator, Curran needed little adjustment time between positions, as his first year as head coach saw Merrimack post its best season in five years in 2013.
With the foundation for one of the top offensive units in the country already in place during his run as offensive coordinator, Curran's Warriors did not wait long to show the rest of the region - and country - that they would be a force to be reckoned with, as the first-year head coach led Merrimack to one of its most impressive victories in school history in a 42-41 upset win at Division I Wagner College to open the year.
That victory set the tone for one of Merrimack's best seasons in five years, as the Warriors recorded seven wins for the first time since 2009 and were in the thick of the Northeast-10 Conference race all the way down to the final weekend. Overall, Curran's first campaign as head coach ended with a 7-4 record that included a 5-4 mark in league play, as the Warriors finished in fourth place in the ultra-competitive NE-10.
Along the way, Merrimack picked up marquee road victories at the likes of LIU Post and Assumption, as well as a thrilling Homecoming Weekend win against rival Bentley before capping off 2013 by posting the program's 100th victory in school history against Southern Connecticut on NE-10 Championship Weekend.
With Curran at the helm in 2013, three Warriors earned All-America status, one earned Academic All-District, four earned All-Super Region, and a league-high 10 different student-athletes were named to the NE-10 All-Conference Team. Class of 2014 graduate Joe Clancy became the first 4,000-yard passer in league history in addition to throwing 48 touchdowns, a mark that ranked second in the country. He was also named a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman trophy), and wrapped up his career with an invitational to the prestigious Medal of Honor All-Star Game.
As a team in 2013, Merrimack once again boasted the top offense in the Northeast-10 Conference and one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 489.4 yards of total offense per game and 39.1 points per game.
Curran became the fifth head coach of the Merrimack College football program in February of 2013 after spending the last three seasons as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator, replacing John Perry, who had spent the five previous seasons as head coach.
Curran’s prolific offense led the Northeast-10 Conference in total offense in each of his three seasons as the team's offensive coordinator and also led the country in passing offense in 2012 with nearly 400 yards per contest and ranked second nationally in total offense (525+ yards/game) and scoring offense (41+ ppg).
Under Curran’s tutelage, the Warriors received the two major NE-10 offensive awards in 2012, Clancy being named Offensive Player of the Year and Isaiah Voegeli ('13) being named Most Valuable Player after finishing his career as arguably the top wideout in school history.
Curran was also instrumental in getting Merrimack Football on the map with the National Football League helping orchestrate and plan an annual Pro Day which has taken place every year for the last decade. The tradition of Warriors receiving opportunities to play at the next level started with Merrimack alums Isaiah Voegeli ('13), Shawn Loiseau ('12), Tony Johnson ('12) and James Suozzo ('11) and has continued in recent years with a number of other prominent alums moving on to the NFL as well as other professional leagues.
Curran came to Merrimack after playing eight years of professional football which included time spent with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League as well as the New Orleans Voodoo and Georgia Force of the Arena Football League.
As a player in the Arena Football League, Curran earned First Team All-League Honors and was named to the All-Ironman Team after leading the league in rushing and becoming just the third player in league history at the time to rush for over 20 touchdowns in a season.
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Curran earned Atlantic-10 honors after rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns in his senior season playing for head coach Sean McDonnell and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. The Chelmsford High School Hall of Famer was the Boston Globe Player of the Year and received USA Today All America honorable mention in addition to being named the sixth-best player in New England by Super Prep Magazine after leading Chelmsford to a Super Bowl victory and its fourth consecutive Merrimack Valley Conference title.
Curran currently resides in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, with his wife, Megan, and their three children, Ty, Kaley and McKayla.
