After coaching the team's linebackers for the past year, as well as helping coordinate special teams, Tony Caljean is being promoted to the role of defensive coordinator for NCAA Division II program Gannon University, sources told FootballScoop Wednesday night.
A former quality control coach at Akron and recruiting analyst at UCLA, Caljean helped coach All-America kicker Eric Scarpino and also orchestrated special teams units that ranked among NCAA Division II's best for fewest blocked kicks or punts.
Caljean previously had a two-year run as defensive coordinator at Whittier College in 2021-22, and throughout his 12-year collegiate coaching career he's focused strongly on both special teams and defense, repeatedly instructing linebackers along the way.
He has been selected as a participant in the 2024 NFL/NCAA Coaches Academy.
Under coach Erik Raeburn, Gannon dipped to an 5-6 campaign in 2023 after the Golden Knights won eight games in 2022. Raeburn's eight-win season marked the program's best in nearly two decades, saw the team share the conference title and finish just one win short of the school's single-season record.
The Golden Knights compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.