Meet AIC’s Head Football Coach Dan Chipka

I’ve taken a rather unique path to AIC. After playing one season for an arena football team in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I began coaching and teaching at the high school level in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio. At 24, I was fortunate to become the head coach at Waite High School on Toledo’s east side. After three years there, I served as head coach at St. Francis de Sales High School for four seasons.

The final season at SFS was particularly challenging, as it was the only school in the region to remain open through much of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, my wife’s employer allowed her to work remotely indefinitely, which opened the door for us to relocate for a college opportunity. Not long after, I accepted a position as special teams coordinator at Wingate University in Charlotte, North Carolina.

After a year and a half at Wingate, I moved north to Springfield, Massachusetts, to work alongside Kris Kulzer and later Lou Conte. This will be my fourth season at AIC, and I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made—both on and off the field.

Our culture at AIC Football is called ‘Building Better.’  It focuses on the daily process of self-improvement and becoming the best version of yourself. As interim head coach last season, I spent a great deal of time implementing the principles of our Building Better approach. Over time, we saw a meaningful impact on the team, both in mindset and performance.

I also use these same principles when recruiting, as they help us attract the kind of leaders we want and need in our program.

From a schematic perspective, I believe in complementary football across all three phases of the game, with a consistent emphasis on fundamentals—especially blocking and tackling. I am very proud of the schematic systems that we run, but more than anything, I believe that program-wide alignment, combined with strong recruiting and player development, will allow AIC to return to its winning tradition.

As mentioned earlier, we are a process- and standards-driven football program. Our ‘Building Better’ philosophy emphasizes what we can control—our attitude, effort, and enthusiasm. Instead of focusing on outcomes, we concentrate on the daily work that puts us in a position to succeed.

We also believe that continued focus on preparation, competitive toughness, and brotherhood will lead to long-term success—not just in football, but in life beyond the game.

Fans and supporters can expect to see a team that plays with tremendous spirit and enthusiasm. We’ve got a good mix of experience and youth, and we’ll be leaning on our veteran players to lead, especially early in the season.

I’ve been very encouraged by the development of both our offensive and defensive lines, as well as the overall team athleticism. We had a strong offseason in the weight room and a productive spring. We’re excited to report to fall camp and get the season underway.

Homecoming is a meaningful event for alumni, students, faculty, and the wider AIC community. It’s been several years since we’ve won our Homecoming game—and that needs to change.

We have a proud group of alumni, and former players deserve to return to campus and feel proud of the program, just as they did during their playing days. This year’s game against Bentley will be a tough test, but it’s one that we are looking forward to.

After being named head coach, I started a monthly newsletter called ‘The State Street Gameplan.’  It’s been a great way to stay connected with alumni and share the exciting progress of our program.

If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please fill out our Alumni Constituent Questionnaire HERE.

You can also reach me directly at: daniel.chipka@aic.edu

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and continuing to Build Better here on State Street. Go Jackets!