Former Willamette Head Coach Dan Hawkins to Lead USA Football Team

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Former Willamette University football head coach Dan Hawkins has been selected as the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team that will compete at the Senior World Championships next summer. The Senior World Championships will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, from July 4-18, 2015.

The event, which has been held every four years since 1999, is governed by the International Federation of America Football (IFAF). It will be the fifth IFAF Senior World Championship. Twelve nations will be competing for the 2015 title. In 2011, the United States defeated Canada, 50-7, in the championships game in Vienna, Australia.

Hawkins was the head coach at Willamette from 1993 through 1997. He achieved an overall record of 40-11-1 (.779) to rank fourth all-time at WU in career victories. The Bearcats reached the NAIA Division II semifinals in 1996 and finished the year with a 9-2 record.

He led Willamette into the NAIA Division II championship game in 1997 with an undefeated record, before the Bearcats fell to Findlay University (Ohio), 14-7. Willamette ended the season at 13-1 overall.

Following the 1997 season, Hawkins left Willamette to become an assistant coach at Boise State University. He was promoted to head coach at Boise State prior to the 2001 season and remained the head coach through 2005. At BSU, he achieved a 53-11 (.828) record, including four consecutive Western Athletic Conference (WAC) titles.

Hawkins was the head coach at the University of Colorado from 2006 through 2010. He led the Buffaloes to a win over #3-ranked Oklahoma in 2007, and took Colorado to the Independence Bowl later that season.

He was the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 2013. While he was at Montreal, Mark Speckman, also a former Willamette head coach (1998-2011), served on his coaching staff.

Currently, Hawkins is a college football analyst for ESPN and Sirius Satellite Radio.

His son, Cody Hawkins, was the starting quarterback on the winning U.S. Men's National Team at the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship. Cody Hawkins was named to the All-Tournament team.

"I am extremely humbled and honored to be selected to lead the 2015 U.S. Men's National Team," Dan Hawkins said. "After watching the 2011 squad in action in Austria, I am excited about being part of the program in Stockholm. Representing our country and USA Football, while further strengthening our game internationally, is a unique and special opportunity."

In addition to the United States, other countries competing at the 2015 Senior World Championships will be Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Sweden. Morocco and Egypt will play each other in December to determine Africa's bid, while Brazil and Panama will play in January for the final berth.

The 12 teams will be divided into four pools with three teams each. Two pool games will determine which teams advance to the final brackets, with the pool winners competing in the medal round.

USA Football will announce the rest of the coaching staff later this year. The U.S. roster is expected to be announced in March of 2015. A total of 45 players who are at least 20 years old will be selected. Because USA Football has been recognized by the NCAA as the sport's national governing body, participating in the IFAF Senior World Championships does not affect collegiate eligibility.