Dale Carlson

Dale Carlson
Biographical details
Alma materConcordia University Chicago
Playing career
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1982–1983Elmhurst (OL)
1984Franklin (IN) (OL)
1985–1986Grand Valley State (OL)
1987–1989Lakeland
1990–1993Taylor
1995–2002Tri-State
2003–2009Ohio Domican
2010–2013Valparaiso
2014North Park (AHC/WR/ST)
2015–2016Lindenwood–Belleville
2018-2019Washington University (TE)
Head coaching record
Overall117–159–3
Tournaments3–3 (NAIA playoffs)

Dale Carlson is an American football coach and former college player. He served as the head football coach at Lakeland College—now known as Lakeland University—in Plymouth, Wisconsin, from 1987 to 1989, Taylor University from 1990 to 1993, Tri-State University—now known as Trine University—from 1995 to 2002, Ohio Dominican University from 2003 to 2009, and Valparaiso University from 2010 to 2013, and Lindenwood University – Belleville from 2015 to 2016.[1] In 2021, Carlson was the wide receivers coach for the Linemen of the Spring League.

Personal life

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Carlson played linebacker during college at Concordia University Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education. He earned a Master of Science in Education from Chicago State University.[2]

Coaching career

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Carlson began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at Elmhurst College from 1982 to 1984. He then moved to Franklin College for the 1984 season and Grand Valley State University from 1985 to 1987, serving in the same role as offensive line coach.[2]

Carlson became the head coach at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1987. He spent three seasons with Lakeland, before taking the head coach position at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.[2]

After leaving Taylor, he was tasked with founding the football programs at Tri-State University, now known as Trine University. Carlson spent eight seasons guiding the team and led the team to 11 victories in 1998 plus an NAIA semifinal appearance and a top-three national ranking. He then led the Thunder to the Mid-States Football Association Mideast Conference title in 2001 and was named the conference Coach of the Year.[2]

In 2003, Carlson was named head coach at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus, Ohio, and again placed in a position to build a football program at ODU like he did at Trine. Despite a 0–10 inaugural season, he quickly led the program into a prominent position in the NAIA and an undefeated regular season during the 2007 season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the national playoffs.[2] The 2007 season also saw Carlson earn Conference Coach of the Year and was named the American Football Coaches Association Region II and American Football Monthly/Schutt Sports NAIA National Coach of the Year.[2] Under Carlson, ODU led all of college football with an average of more than 50 points per game.[2] While guiding the Panthers, Carlson produced five All-Americans, seven Academic All-Americans, and more than 90 All-Conference players in his six years.[2]

Carlson was named the 16th head football coach in at Valparaiso University until his firing near the end of 2013 season.[3] Following the stint with Valparaiso, Carlson returned to his native Chicago, Illinois, to serve as the assistant head coach at North Park University.[2]

Carlson returned to head coaching in 2015 when he became the second head coach in program history at Lindenwood University – Belleville, The 2015 season, marked the first for the Lynx in the Mid-States Football Association.[4]

Carlson has been active in the American Football Coaches Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Lakeland Muskies (Illini–Badger Football Conference) (1987–1989)
1987 Lakeland 6–3 3–2 3rd
1988 Lakeland 5–5 3–1 2nd
1989 Lakeland 2–7–2 1–5 9th
Lakeland: 13–15–2 7–8
Taylor Trojans (Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1990)
1990 Taylor 5–5 2–5 T–6th
Taylor Trojans (NAIA Division II independent) (1991)
1991 Taylor 3–7
1992 Taylor 2–7–1
1993 Taylor 4–7
Taylor: 14–26–1 2–5
Tri-State Thunder (NAIA independent) (1995–2002)
1995 Tri-State 2–5
1996 Tri-State 4–6
1997 Tri-State 4–6
1998 Tri-State 11–3 L NAIA Semifinal
1999 Tri-State 6–4
2000 Tri-State 6–5
2001 Tri-State 8–3 L NAIA First Round
2002 Tri-State 6–3
Tri-State: 47–35
Ohio Dominican Panthers (Mid-States Football Association) (2004–2008)
2004 Ohio Dominican 0–10 0–7 8th (MEL)
2005 Ohio Dominican 3–7 2–5 T–6th (MEL)
2006 Ohio Dominican 7–3 4–2 T–2nd (MEL)
2007 Ohio Dominican 12–1 7–0 1st (MEL) L NAIA Quarterfinal
2008 Ohio Dominican 7–3 4–2 T–2nd (MEL)
Ohio Dominican Panthers (NCAA Division II independent) (2009)
2009 Ohio Dominican 7–3
Ohio Dominican: 36–27 17–16
Valparaiso Crusaders (Pioneer Football League) (2010–2013)
2010 Valparaiso 0–11 0–8 10th
2011 Valparaiso 1–10 1–7 10th
2012 Valparaiso 1–10 1–7 9th
2013 Valparaiso 1–9[n 1] 1–6[n 1] [n 1]
Valparaiso: 3–40 3–28
Lindenwood–Belleville Lynx (Mid-States Football Association) (2015–2016)
2015 Lindenwood–Belleville 4–6 2–4 T–4th (MEL)
2016 Lindenwood–Belleville 0–10 0–6 7th (MEL)
Lindenwood–Belleville: 4–16 2–10
Total: 117–159–3

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Carson was fired before the final game of the 2013 season. Assistant coach Mike Gravier served as interim head coach for the final game. Valparaiso finished 1–10 overall and 1–7 in Pioneer Football League play, tying for ninth place.

References

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  1. ^ Lundquist, Casey (November 30, 2016). "LU-B lured Carlson to build a football program. It's already let him go". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Carlson named Vikings assistant head coach". Kevin Shepke. August 4, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  3. ^ "Carlson Relieved of Duties as Head Coach of Valparaiso Football Program". November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  4. ^ "Dale Carlson, Lindenwood University football coach". Belleville News Democrat. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
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