On Fri. March 5, Michael Whalen ’83 was officially named the 21st head coach in Wesleyan football history, and sixth since World War II. Whalen, who had been the head coach at Williams since 2004, leading to the Ephs to a cumulative 38-10 record in his six seasons in the Purple Valley, was officially introduced at a ceremony in the Norm Daniels Lobby of the Freeman Athletic Center on March 8. In addition to his football coaching responsibilities, Whalen was named Assistant Director of Athletics.

“Coach Whalen…comes to us from Williams College with an impressive record of accomplishment,” wrote Director of Athletics John Biddiscombe in an all-campus e-mail sent the evening of March 5. “He has one of the most winning records in Division III football in the nation, and I look forward to the contribution he will make to Wesleyan.”

According to a statement released by Williams, Whalen wrote, “This opportunity at Wesleyan will provide me with valuable experience in areas outside of football, which will hopefully benefit my career down the road. Although coaching remains a tremendous passion for me, I felt it was time to enhance my career in other areas as well. My position of head football coach and assistant athletic director at Wesleyan will afford me those opportunities. I am excited for the challenges that lie ahead and ready to head down to Middletown to begin a new chapter in my coaching career.”

Whalen replaced fellow alumnus Frank Hauser ’79, who had been head coach since 1992 and amassed a cumulative record of 68-76, including 18-38 from 2003-09, during which time Wesleyan finished at or below .500 each season. Hauser was fired following the 2009 season, according to an article in The Middletown Press published Dec. 23. A statement released by the University the same day announced that “Wesleyan University has begun an immediate search to replace former head football coach Frank Hauser” and included a quote from Biddiscombe stating that “Wesleyan is very grateful to Frank for his dedication to the program since his arrival in 1986.”

Whalen was a standout on the gridiron during his time at Wesleyan. In addition to captaining the team, he earned all-New England recognition three times and was also an Honorable Mention All-American offensive lineman. He was also captain of the wrestling team, receiving all-New England honors as a heavyweight each of his four years in Middletown and becoming the first wrestler to win four consecutive New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) titles. He remained at Wesleyan during the 1983-84 academic year, serving as an assistant defensive line coach and assistant wrestling coach.

“It is an honor and a true pleasure to welcome Coach Whalen back to Wesleyan,” Biddiscombe said in a statement. “He left as a standout college player and returns as one of the finest college football coaches in the nation.”

Whalen went to Springfield College in 1984, serving as a graduate assistant in football and wrestling while earning a master’s in physical education. He moved on to the University of Pennsylvania after earning his M.A.; the 1986 Penn squad went undefeated and won the Ivy League title. He then went to Lafayette College, helping lead the Leopards to the 1988 Colonial League title and 1989 Patriot League championship. Whalen moved to Colgate University in 1993, serving as associate head coach and offensive line coach.

Whalen landed at Williams in 1996, serving as offensive line coach for eight years and assuming offensive coordinator duties in 2001. He was also the head coach of Williams wrestling from 1996 until 2004. Whalen led the 2006 Eph football squad to an 8-0 showing—just the sixth perfect season in Williams history—and was named NESCAC Coach of the Year and was one of 16 finalists for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top coach among all divisions. He was the only Division III coach among the finalists. He also received the Johnny Vaught Head Coaching Award and was named the Master Sports University/College Coach of the Year.

Whalen had led the Ephs to consecutive 6-2 seasons in his first two years in Williamstown, including a six-game winning streak to end the 2005 season. The Ephs also finished 6-2 each of the last three seasons. Whalen went 10-2 in Little Three games, winning four straight outright titles from 2005-08, the longest streak by any team in the rivalry since the Ephs won 10 straight from 1987-96. He had a winning record against every NESCAC team except Bowdoin (1-1) and Trinity (1-5), including 6-0 records against Bates, Hamilton, Wesleyan, and 2008 NESCAC champion Middlebury.

At least one Williams offensive lineman received first-team all-NESCAC honors during each of Whalen’s six years at Williamstown. He also coached the only player in NESCAC and ECAC Northeast history to be named Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, quarterback Pat Lucey ’08. Whalen also had 36 wrestlers receive all-New England honors and was named NECCWA Coach of the Year in 2000 after leading the Ephs to a second-place finish among 15 teams. He was also named NECCWA Rookie Coach of the Year in 1997.

Whalen’s football teams also excelled in the classroom. Twenty four student-athletes received NESCAC All-Academic honors during his tenure, including 15 the last two years, the second-highest total in the conference during that time behind only Middlebury (22).

“We are excited about the levels of excellence that [Coach Whalen] expects on and off the field from the scholar-athletes he coaches and recruits,” said President Michael Roth in a statement. “We are confident that he can ensure the success we expect both in the classroom and in athletic competition here at Wesleyan, and his success and experience will be an asset to the overall athletic program.”

Whalen will officially begin his duties at Wesleyan April 1.

“We had 14 fantastic years in Williamstown, and it was a very, very difficult decision, but at the end of the day, what it came down to was our feeling as a family that we could come back to Middletown…and bring back the tradition of Wesleyan football,” Whalen said.

“To have this level of excitement and enthusiasm really makes me 100 percent convinced that this was the right decision,” he added. “I’m really excited to be here today, and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”