Wilfrid Laurier University has named Todd Galloway the seventh head coach in program history.
“It’s truly an honour to be named Laurier’s head football coach and manager of football operations,” Galloway said in a statement. “This program and this university helped shape my foundation, and the opportunity to lead and give back to my alma mater is incredibly meaningful to me. I don’t take this responsibility lightly, and I’m ready to work relentlessly to sustain and grow the championship culture that our locker room has built.”
Galloway has been with the Golden Hawks since 2020, serving as offensive coordinator, student-athlete development, and receivers’ coach. He played an integral part in developing Taylor Elgersma from a little-known recruit to the best player in Canadian university football, helping the strong-armed passer gain NFL attention. Laurier won the Yates Cup in 2024 and eventually came up short in the 59th Vanier Cup.
“Coach Galloway is the perfect choice to lead Laurier football,” Elgersma said in a statement. “He has been so important to this team and is the smartest football mind in U Sports. He is a great leader who will continue our winning culture.”
The 44-year-old helped transfer QB Cal Wither quickly become comfortable in Laurier’s offensive scheme in 2025. Wither led the country with 26 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions while completing 72.7 percent of his passes for 2,472 yards in eight OUA regular-season games. Veteran receiver Ethan Jordan took home the Hec Crighton Trophy after last season, marking the second consecutive year in which a player from Galloway’s offence received the top individual honour in U Sports.
Galloway played receiver for the Golden Hawks from 2000 through 2003. He started his coaching career with WLU in 2004 as the team’s receivers coach and won a Vanier Cup on the coaching staff in 2005.
The Kitchener, Ont. native later moved to Nova Scotia, where he spent time with Saint Mary’s University. He returned to Ontario in 2011 with the University of Guelph and spent eight seasons with the team, five as offensive coordinator. In 2018, he was the school’s interim head coach and went 5-3, guiding the Gryphons to a Yates Cup appearance.
Galloway would go on to spend one season as recruiting coordinator and offensive assistant for McMaster University in 2019, then returned to his alma mater the following year.
Longtime assistant coach Ron VanMoerkerke has been elevated to associate head coach. He played linebacker for the Golden Hawks in the late 1980s. He won a Yates Cup as a player in 1987 and earned first-team OUA all-star honours in 1989, along with being named team MVP. The Guelph native has won four Yates Cups (2004, 2005, 2016 and 2024) and a Vanier Cup (2005) as a coach with the Golden Hawks.
“I am excited to continue working alongside coach Galloway, who has consistently demonstrated that he is one of the best offensive coordinators in the U Sports,” VanMoerkerke said in a statement. “With the rest of our outstanding staff, and the continued commitment of our players and alumni, we will continue to make Laurier football one of the best football programs in the country.”
Laurier was forced to undergo a coaching search after the team’s previous bench boss, Michael Faulds left to take the same role at Western University. He posted a 72-42 record during his 13-year tenure, led the team to two Yates Cups, and earned U Sports Coach of the Year a record three times.
The Golden Hawks went undefeated through the eight-game OUA regular season in 2025 and once again advanced to the Yates Cup, but were upset by Queen’s University in the conference title game.
