@CoachDavidElson
David Elson, a veteran coach within the Missouri Valley Football Conference, joined Charlie Fisher’s staff in January 2016 as defensive coordinator.
During the past two years, Elson worked at Southern Illinois as an assistant coach in charge of the secondary and served as the defensive coordinator in the 2015 season. Last year the Saluki defense finished 27th nationally in redzone defense.
In Elson's season as the program's defensive coordinator, three of his players finished in the top five in the MVFC in tackles per game (Chase Allen, Kenny James and Markese Jackson). Allen and James earned All-MVFC recognition after the season.
Elson is no stranger to the MVFC, having served as the head coach at Western Kentucky for seven seasons from 2003 to 2009. He helped lead the Hilltoppers through their transition from the FCS to the FBS. Prior to taking over as head coach, he was the defensive coordinator at WKU under Jack Harbaugh and helped the team win the 2002 I-AA national championship. During his seven year coaching career he finished fifth all-time in WKU history with 39 victories and went to the FCS Playoffs in consecutive years.
Elson became the youngest Division I head coach when he was tapped to lead WKU before the 2003 season. He made the FCS Playoffs in both 2003 and 2004. After losing 25 seniors from his 2003 team, Elson guided the 2004 Hilltoppers to a 9-4 record and a 6-1 mark in the Gateway. That team made a quarterfinal appearance in the FCS Playoffs, and Elson was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award.
His 2005 team reached a No. 1 national ranking twice during the year, and his 2003 and 2004 teams both finished the season ranked in the ‘Top 15’ nationally. Nine of his players earned All-America accolades.
Among the NFL players Elson mentored while at WKU were wide receiver Curtis Hamilton (Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints), defensive back Mel Mitchell (New Orleans Saints/5th round draft pick) and defensive back Joseph Jefferson, who played for the Indianapolis Colts (3rd round).
As head coach of the Hilltoppers, Elson also recruited a trio of current NFL players: Robby Rainey (Tampa Bay), Jack Doyle (Indianapolis) and Quantarius Smith (Denver).
Prior to joining the Salukis, Elson served two years as defensive coordinator at New Mexico State. He spent the 2010 season on the Indiana coaching staff as defensive quality control coach. Elson’s career began as a graduate assistant at SIU in 1994 and 1995.
A 1994 graduate of Butler, Elson was a three-year letter winner and started at strong safety his final two seasons. The Bulldogs captured the conference championship in both his sophomore and junior years.
A native of Indianapolis, Elson and his wife Kathy have three daughters, Lauren, Jessica and Maggie.
