The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks kick off their 2026 season this weekend taking on the Guelph Gryphons Saturday at University Stadium. It will be the first game in 14 seasons without former head coach Michael Faulds on the sidelines. Faulds stepped down earlier this year to take the head coach position for his alma mater, the Western Mustangs. Stepping up as head coach is former offensive coordinator Todd Galloway. “Very excited, very humbled to be in charge of the program that taught me so much and excited to get going,” he said. Galloway, who has been on the Golden Hawks coaching staff for the last six years, is also a former player. “I think about moments like this, that (this) being an alma mater, this being the program that I was fortunate enough to play at as well... it really is a full circle moment that’s going to happen this weekend for me,” said Galloway. The players say the hiring of Galloway was a major confidence boost after Faulds exit. “Obviously at first when we heard about what was happening, everybody was a little weary about it,” said 4th Linebacker Jessie Wilkins-Flaricee about losing coach Faulds. “But once we learned who our new head coach was, everybody was super excited for coach G-Way (Todd Galloway) and once he started to show us more of him, you know, some of our leadership guys, we let him know that everybody’s behind him,” said Wilkins-Flaricee. Quarterback Will Russell says coach Galloway has stepped into the role nicely. “Definitely a little bit more fire under him for sure. He’s super motivated, obviously he’s a very determined, very hard worker, he’s up (at) 4:30 in the morning every day,” he said. The Golden Hawks season kicks off 6:00 p.m. Saturday August 29th at University Stadium. Their game against the Western Mustangs will take place October 24th in London.
