WORCESTER, Mass. — Holy Cross Associate Vice President for Athletics Kit Hughes announced the hiring of Dan Curran as the next head coach of the Holy Cross football team on Friday, Dec. 15.
Curran most recently spent 11 seasons as the head coach at Merrimack, guiding the program through its transition to Division I. He is the all-time winningest coach in Merrimack history with 53 victories, and led the Warriors to the Northeast Conference championship game in 2022 and 2023. Curran's 2022 team also tied the school single-season record with eight victories, while posting a seven-game winning streak and receiving votes in the top 25 for four consecutive weeks in just the program's third full season at the Division I level.
"Holy Cross football has established its reputation as arguably the best place in Division I to pursue both an elite undergraduate degree and compete nationally at the highest level," Hughes said. "Worcester has become a place for outstanding students, athletes and people to develop themselves in every dimension of their lives, and I could not be more excited to enhance that reputation under Coach Curran's leadership. His deep understanding of Holy Cross, our values as a Jesuit Catholic institution, our commitment to academic excellence, and demonstrated ability to build and lead a quality and highly respected program helped him to distinguish himself throughout an incredibly competitive process. Coach Curran embraces not just the program that we are currently, but the one that we can be. His respect for the past, vision for the future and enthusiasm for the present will serve our student-athletes, College and community incredibly well moving forward.
"I would like to thank members of my team, including Deputy Athletic Director Nick Smith and members of our Search Advisory Board, for their thoughtful insight throughout this process. We were methodical with our search, and I could not be more excited with the outcome and opportunity to support Coach Curran and our football program moving forward."
Throughout his career, Curran has recruited and mentored nine All-Americans, 50 all-conference players and 10 NFL free agents.
"It's an absolute pleasure and honor to be named the next head football coach at Holy Cross," Curran said. "I would like to thank President Vincent Rougeau, Kit Hughes and Nick Smith for this wonderful opportunity. Holy Cross is truly a special place, one where our student-athletes can have an elite academic experience, compete for championships and be a part of an amazing community. My family and I are thrilled to now be a part of the Holy Cross community, and could not be more excited to get to work and compete for championship number 12."
During the 2023 season, Curran's team tied for second place in the Northeast Conference, with wide receiver and kick returner Donovan Wadley earning first team All-American and NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Warriors placed eight players on the All-NEC teams, while ranking fifth in the nation in total defense (283.2 yards allowed per game).
In 2022, Curran's squad tied the program record with eight victories and finished in second place in the NEC. The Warriors had nine All-NEC and three All-New England selections, and led the conference in rushing defense (136.4 yards allowed per game).
In the Warriors' inaugural season at the NCAA football championship subdivision (FCS) level and in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2019, Curran guided Merrimack to a 6-5 record, with the Warriors becoming one of just a handful of teams to have a winning record in their first year at the Division I 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.
During Merrimack's tenure at the Division II level, Curran led the program to several marquee moments, 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 II regional powers LIU (four of the five wins in program history vs LIU) and New Haven (two of the three wins in program history vs New Haven, both on the road), as well as a winning record vs. old NE10 rivals Southern Connecticut and Bentley.
Under Curran's guidance, the Merrimack 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 continually ranked among Merrimack's most active programs in terms of community service hours each academic year.
Prior to his time as Merrimack's head coach, Curran spent three seasons as Warriors' offensive coordinator from 2010-2012. Merrimack led the Northeast-10 Conference in total offense during each of his three years as offensive coordinator. During the 2012 campaign, the Warriors ranked first in the nation with an average of 399.2 passing yards per game, while standing second in the country in both total offense (525.8 yards per game) and 10th in scoring offense (41.0 points per game).
Curran came to Merrimack after playing eight years of professional football. He spent time 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 All-Atlantic 10 honors after rushing for over 1,000 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns in his senior season 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 as a senior after leading to a Super Bowl victory and its fourth consecutive Merrimack Valley Conference title.
Curran and his wife, Megan, have three children (Ty, Kaley and McKayla).
THE DAN CURRAN FILE
Hometown: Chelmsford, Mass.
Education: New Hampshire '99
Wife: Megan
Children: Ty, Kaley and McKayla
CURRAN'S COACHING CAREER
2013-23 – Merrimack (Head Coach)
2010-12 – Merrimack (Offensive Coordinator)
ABOUT HOLY CROSS
The College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts — the second-largest city in New England — is among the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 3,100 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. Holy Cross is one of a select group of colleges that meets 100% of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need. Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society since its founding in 1843 by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.
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