Loras College Athletics

A 2001 graduate of Saint John's University, Brandon Novak was named head football coach at Loras College in December 2025 after spending 26 seasons as an assistant coach with the Johnnies, the last 11 as defensive coordinator.

During his time at Saint John's, Coach Novak contributed to one of the most consistently successful programs in NCAA Division III football. He was part of teams that recorded 245 wins, captured 13 conference championships, and made 30 NCAA Tournament appearances in Division III. As defensive coordinator, he helped guide the Johnnies to five Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) titles in seven years and 10 NCAA Championship berths in 11 seasons. His defensive units were regularly among the top-ranked in the nation, and he played a key role in the development of 68 All-Americans and 24 Academic All-Americans.

Notably, Novak recruited two Gagliardi Trophy winners — the highest individual honor in Division III football — during his tenure: linebacker Carter Hanson (2016 recipient) and quarterback Jackson Erdmann (2018 recipient). He also directly coached Hanson at the linebacker position.
 
In addition to his football contributions, Novak served as head wrestling coach at Saint John's for 10 seasons (part of a 12-year stint on the wrestling staff). Under his leadership, the program grew significantly as he quadrupled the size of the roster through strong recruitment and development efforts. He coached 16 All-Americans and 21 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, while guiding the team to competitive national finishes. A highlight of his tenure was mentoring Myanganbayar "Minga" Batsukh, SJU's only three-time NCAA Division III national champion.
 
A former standout student-athlete at Saint John's, Novak earned All-Conference honors and was named MIAC Most Valuable Player as a linebacker in 1999, while also winning a national championship in wrestling. He returned to his alma mater immediately after graduation to begin his coaching career, primarily working with linebackers before taking on broader defensive responsibilities and eventually leading the defensive staff.
 
Now at the helm of the Duhawks, Coach Novak is eager to bring the same foundation of disciplined, fundamentally sound, and team-first football to Loras. He is deeply committed to developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom, while fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, hard work, and pride in Dubuque and the Loras community.
 
Novak and his wife, Heather, are the proud parents of three children. They are excited to join the Loras community in Dubuque.