WARREN, Mich. – It’s been reported since last week, but De La Salle Collegiate announced its decision on Monday: the Pilots have a new head football coach.

A four-time state champion with 18 years of head coaching experience, Dan Rohn has been named the 19th head football coach in school history.

As one of the most successful high school coaches in Michigan, the 48-year-old Rohn brings with him a wealth of football knowledge and experience, along with a passion for connecting with student-athletes and helping them grow as both football players and young men.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to welcome Dan Rohn to our Lasallian community,” President John M. Knight said. “Dan’s background of success in forming young people of faith, compassion and conviction is a great fit for De La Salle Collegiate.”

Rohn experienced a steady rise from gridiron architect at West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids to an assistant head coach at Ferris State University, one of the nation’s elite NCAA Division II programs. Overall, Rohn brings two decades of head coaching experience to the Pilots’ program. He’s amassed 150 victories in his varsity head coaching career, which began at Fremont High School (1995-05).

After a four-year hiatus from prep coaching, Rohn is excited to be back at a Catholic school.

“I went to Ferris because I thought I wanted to coach college after achieving a lot of things in high school and it just wasn’t the right fit,” he said. “I took almost three years to find the right place that I thought would be the right fit for me. The minute I walked into De La Salle I got a feeling that I’m used to and comfortable with. 

“Being back at a Catholic school is important to me. I just love the sense of commitment that the kids and the parents and everybody feels and shares. I’m not saying you don’t get it at a public school in some communities, but it’s just a different feel, a different investment, a different environment in the Catholic and private school settings.”

Rohn built a dynasty at West Catholic, crafting one of the most dominant programs in the state. He coached the Falcons from 2007-15 and compiled a 99-19 record while leading them to the postseason each year and capturing four state championships, including three straight from 2013-15. In his nine seasons at West Catholic, Rohn’s teams posted an astonishing 51-1 conference record and seven state regional titles. The Falcons also won the 2010 state crown and reached the state finals in 2012. 

From 2010-15, the Falcons had a 27-2 playoff record, which was the best of any high school in the state of Michigan. The undefeated 2014 championship team set a school record for most victories (14) in the school’s 58-year history, earning Rohn several postseason honors, including Detroit Free Press Coach of the Year, Detroit Lions Coach of the Year, and Sports Faith International Coach of the Year.

Following the 2015 state championship, Rohn accepted an offer to become run-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Ferris State head coach Tony Annese. There, the Bulldogs went 12-3 overall in 2016 and advanced to the Division II national semifinals for only the second time in school history. The next year, Rohn was elevated to assistant head coach and the Bulldogs made their fourth consecutive trip to the postseason, reaching the national quarterfinals for the second straight year. 

His additional duties in 2017 included working as FSU alumni liaison in addition to developing strategies to best connect with alumni and donors to support the football program. Rohn also supervised all major fundraising efforts, including coordinating the annual lift-a-thon and golf outing. At West Catholic, Rohn also served as athletic director, facility director, and assisted the advancement director from 2008-13.

A 1989 graduate of Muskegon Orchard View High School, Rohn was a running back at Grand Valley State University where he received his coaching education from mentors like former Lakers head coach Tom Beck and his successor, Brian Kelly, now head coach at the University Notre Dame and former Lakers graduate assistant Todd Monken, now offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia, and Mike Denbrock the offensive coordinator at University of Cincinnati.

Rohn began his career in 1994 coaching freshman football at Northville High School. The following year he returned to West Michigan to become defensive coordinator at Fremont. A year later he took over as Packers’ head coach, inheriting a program that had suffered through 12 consecutive losing seasons, including five winless. In nine seasons he led the Packers to a 51-34 record.

A three-time letterman for the Lakers, Rohn earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from GVSU, and a master's degree in secondary administration from Western Michigan University. He has two college-aged sons, Jackson and Gabe.