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Football Welcomes Mulrooney as New Defensive Coordinator
1/11/2025 10:05:00 AM | Football
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown head coach James Perry '00 has announced the hiring of Dan Mulrooney as the Bears' new Defensive Coordinator. A New England native with over a decade of coaching experience, Mulrooney returns to the Northeast after a three-year stint as head coach at Lock Haven.
"I am thrilled to add Dan Mulrooney to our staff as defensive coordinator," said Perry. "Dan has a proven track record of success dating back to his playing days at Boston College, and all the way through his coaching career including his most recent role as head coach at Lock Haven. Dan makes our program better and I know our players will benefit from his energy and expertise. I look forward to working with him."
"I am beyond grateful to work with Coach Perry and help him carry out his vision for this football program," said Mulrooney. "I feel strongly that our defense will PLAY FAST and create a new level of excitement and excellence. I have always had an immense amount of respect for Ivy League football and the scholar athletes that make this league so special. I couldn't be more excited to re-energize our defense and be a part of this incredible team and tradition."
At the helm of Division II Lock Haven, Mulrooney helped lead the Bald Eagles to their best two-year stretch in over 40 years, posting 10 wins between 2023 and 2024, with the five victories in each year marking the most in a season for the program since 1982. He guided nine players to all-conference honors and had two athletes earn Harlon Hill Trophy nominations, including running back Chris Collier and quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky. In 2024, Collier became the first player in program history to appear in an NFL game.
Prior to Lock Haven, Mulrooney served as head coach/defensive coordinator for five years/four seasons at Anna Maria College in Massachusetts (the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic). In his final season with the AMCATS in 2021, he led the young program to a school record seven wins, which was more victories than the previous seven seasons combined, captured the ECFC title and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA DIII Playoffs. During his tenure, two of his players earned ECFC Rookie of the Year, and seven players earned all-conference honors in 2021.
Mulrooney has gained national recognition from his fellow coaches. He has served as a headline speaker at the AFCA National Convention five times (2017-2020, 2023). In 2017, Mulrooney was selected to the American Football Coaches Association's 35 Under 35 Coaches Committee, recognizing the top coaches in the profession from all NCAA levels.
Mulrooney got his coaching start at WPI, where he served a defensive coordinator for three seasons.
Mulrooney earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston College in 2011 and a master's degree in liberal arts from Stony Brook in 2013. While at BC, he played safety and was a member of teams that made four bowl appearances and two trips to the ACC Championship game. He continued his playing career for two seasons at Stony Brook in 2011 and 2012, leading the team in tackles in 2011 and being named the team's Defensive Newcomer of the Year. The Seawolves also won back-to-back Big South titles and twice appeared in the FCS Playoffs.
Dan and his wife Katharine have two sons, Jack and Daniel.
"I am thrilled to add Dan Mulrooney to our staff as defensive coordinator," said Perry. "Dan has a proven track record of success dating back to his playing days at Boston College, and all the way through his coaching career including his most recent role as head coach at Lock Haven. Dan makes our program better and I know our players will benefit from his energy and expertise. I look forward to working with him."
"I am beyond grateful to work with Coach Perry and help him carry out his vision for this football program," said Mulrooney. "I feel strongly that our defense will PLAY FAST and create a new level of excitement and excellence. I have always had an immense amount of respect for Ivy League football and the scholar athletes that make this league so special. I couldn't be more excited to re-energize our defense and be a part of this incredible team and tradition."
At the helm of Division II Lock Haven, Mulrooney helped lead the Bald Eagles to their best two-year stretch in over 40 years, posting 10 wins between 2023 and 2024, with the five victories in each year marking the most in a season for the program since 1982. He guided nine players to all-conference honors and had two athletes earn Harlon Hill Trophy nominations, including running back Chris Collier and quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky. In 2024, Collier became the first player in program history to appear in an NFL game.
Prior to Lock Haven, Mulrooney served as head coach/defensive coordinator for five years/four seasons at Anna Maria College in Massachusetts (the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic). In his final season with the AMCATS in 2021, he led the young program to a school record seven wins, which was more victories than the previous seven seasons combined, captured the ECFC title and made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA DIII Playoffs. During his tenure, two of his players earned ECFC Rookie of the Year, and seven players earned all-conference honors in 2021.
Mulrooney has gained national recognition from his fellow coaches. He has served as a headline speaker at the AFCA National Convention five times (2017-2020, 2023). In 2017, Mulrooney was selected to the American Football Coaches Association's 35 Under 35 Coaches Committee, recognizing the top coaches in the profession from all NCAA levels.
Mulrooney got his coaching start at WPI, where he served a defensive coordinator for three seasons.
Mulrooney earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston College in 2011 and a master's degree in liberal arts from Stony Brook in 2013. While at BC, he played safety and was a member of teams that made four bowl appearances and two trips to the ACC Championship game. He continued his playing career for two seasons at Stony Brook in 2011 and 2012, leading the team in tackles in 2011 and being named the team's Defensive Newcomer of the Year. The Seawolves also won back-to-back Big South titles and twice appeared in the FCS Playoffs.
Dan and his wife Katharine have two sons, Jack and Daniel.
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