David Elson

David Elson (born August 26, 1971) is an American football coach. He is the defensive coordinator at Marian University, a position he has held since 2020. Elson served as head football coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) from 2003 to 2009.[1][2] He oversaw the transition of Western Kentucky from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) to a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) program, the highest division in college football; in his final season, the Hilltoppers joined the Sun Belt Conference.

David Elson
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator
TeamMarian
ConferenceCL
Biographical details
Born (1971-08-26) August 26, 1971
Indianapolis, Indiana
Playing career
1990–1993Butler
Position(s)Safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995Southern Illinois (GA)
1996–2000Western Kentucky (DB)
2001–2002Western Kentucky (DC)
2003–2009Western Kentucky
2010Indiana (assistant)
2011Franklin-Simpson HS (KY) (DC)
2012–2013New Mexico State (DC)
2014Southern Illinois (DB)
2015Southern Illinois (DC)
2016Western Illinois (DC)
2017–2019Ball State (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall39–44

Coaching career

Elson joined the Hilltoppers staff as a defensive backs coach in 1996. He served as defensive coordinator for the 2001 and 2002 season before he was promoted to head coach.[3] The rise to college football's highest level was difficult for the program, and Hilltoppers went 2-20 in Elson's final two seasons.

On November 9, 2009 Elson was fired by the university, finishing out the 2009 season. WKU alumnus and Stanford running backs coach Willie Taggart replaced him.[4]

In March 2010, Indiana University head football coach Bill Lynch announced that Elson will be a defensive quality control coach. Coach Lynch noted this would mainly be an administrative role, but that he would be involved in coaching decisions. The Hoosiers made their first road trip of the year to play Elson's former team, the WKU Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Elson spent the 2011 football season as defensive coordinator for KHSAA state finalist Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin, Kentucky.

On January 4, 2012, Elson was announced as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State University.[5]

On January 13, 2013, Elson was announced as the new secondary coach for the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he was a graduate assistant from 94 to 95. On January 20, 2016, after two years at Southern Illinois, Elson accepted the position as defensive coordinator at Western Illinois under new head coach Charlie Fisher.

Personal life

Elson and his wife, Kathy, have three daughters.[6]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Rank#
Western Kentucky (Gateway Football Conference) (2003–2006)
2003 Western Kentucky 9–45–2T–3rdL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal8
2004 Western Kentucky 9–36–12ndL NCAA Division I-AA First Round11
2005 Western Kentucky 6–44–3T–4th
2006 Western Kentucky 6–54–3T–4th
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA Division I FCS independent) (2007)
2007 Western Kentucky 7–5
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (NCAA Division I FBS independent) (2008)
2008 Western Kentucky 2–10
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Sun Belt Conference) (2009)
2009 Western Kentucky 0–120–89th
Western Kentucky: 39–4319–17
Total:39–43
  • #Rankings from final NCAA Division I-AA Coaches Poll.

References
  1. "David Elson Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  2. "David Elson bio, WKU Football Media Guide (2007)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  3. "WKUsports.com: David Elson bio". Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  4. Graves, Will (November 23, 2009). "WKU hires Stanford's Taggart as coach". AP.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-11-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2012-11-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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