Iowa Wesleyan- The American Football Coaches Association, AFCA, and the American Football Coaches Foundation selected Iowa Wesleyan’s Head Football Coach MD Daniels to participate in the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches’ Leadership Institute scheduled for January 8th at the 2023 AFCA Convention. These coaches were whittled down from a field of over 200 coaches with talents coming from the Power 5 Division I level of college football.
Coach Daniels was hired in 2019 to serve as the Defensive Coordinator but by season’s end he was named the 50th head coach in Tigers history. He took over the program during its change from Division III to NAIA and has expanded it from 67 student-athletes to around 140. In his second full season this year, Coach Daniels navigated the Tigers to their highest win total since 2014 and doubled his win total from his first full year, finishing 4-7. The defense was outstanding this year, breaking four school records including most sacks in a game, fewest rushing yards allowed in both a game and season, and fewest total yards allowed in a season. Five players from the defense were given North Star Athletic Association Conference honors with Major Niccum and Joseph Pace headlining with 1st Team honors.