Golden Hawks hire familiar face to lead football program
Posted Jan 17, 2026 06:00:00 AM.
Last Updated Jan 19, 2026 12:25:01 PM.
Last year was quite the year for the Laurier Golden Hawks football program, but 2026 will see a new but familiar face leading the team.
In January 2025, the team announced it had given long-time head coach Michael Faulds a 5-year contract extension. The regular season couldn’t have been better for Laurier, going undefeated all the way to the Yates Cup, only to lose to the Queen’s Gales in the championship.
Then, just about two months later, the team learned that Faulds would be taking the Head Coach position with the rival Western Mustangs.
Laurier wasted no time finding a replacement. Days after Faulds’ departure, it was learned that former Golden Hawks receiver and offensive assistant Todd Galloway would assume the role as Head Coach and Manager, Men’s Football Operations.
Galloway spent four seasons with the Golden Hawks and joined the coaching staff after graduating. He then spent the next 15 seasons coaching elsewhere in OUA, only to return to Laurier in 2020 as offensive coordinator.
Galloway told 570 NewsRadio this was his chance to return the favour to his alma mater.
“Laurier football has done so much for me. I was a student athlete here and when I found out I was given the opportunity to give back in a bigger role as head coach, I was very grateful for the opportunity,” he said.
Galloway said he’s not planning on reinventing the wheel in his new role. He wants to keep things simple.
“We’re not trying to fit anybody into a box,” he said. “We’re not trying to recruit prototypical athletes and make them do what we want. We take a hard look every year at who are our best athlete and how can we just get them the football and let them shine.”
Being very familiar with the program, Galloway said he had one major condition that needed to be met before he would sign on the dotted line: Ron VanMoerkerke would need to be promoted to associate coach.
“That was my number one stipulation. I said if this is the direction we’re going to go in, I’m very grateful,” he said. “I consider Ron a mentor. I’ve known him for a long time and in my opinion he is the best defensive coordinator in the country.”
It will still be a few months before the 2026 OUA Football schedule is released.
