Football

AIC Removes Interim Tag; Dan Chipka Named Head Football Coach

Chipka Led Yellow Jackets to Most Wins in a Season Since 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – American International College Interim Director of Athletics Scott Foulis announced on Thursday, January 9 that the interim tag has been dropped from head football coach Dan Chipka’s title, as the College will retain him as the leader of the football program.
 
"I am pleased to officially name Dan Chipka as the Head Football Coach at American International College. Since stepping in as Interim Head Coach this past summer, he has brought a renewed energy and enthusiasm to AIC Football, fostering a culture of hard work, accountability, and dedication,” Foulis said, adding “The tireless efforts of Coach Chipka and his staff in recruiting, scouting, and player development led to some real progress on the field, with the team consistently showing the ability to perform at a high level as the season progressed. The future of AIC Football is bright with Dan Chipka as our Head Coach, and we are confident that many more good things are on the horizon."
 
"I am incredibly grateful for the trust and confidence the administration has shown in me by removing the interim tag from the head football coach position. This opportunity means a great deal to me and my family, and I am excited to continue leading this football program forward. We have a talented group of student-athletes, a dedicated coaching staff, and a proud alumni base. Together, we will continue to build something truly special here,” Chipka said, adding "The journey ahead is one of hard work, dedication, and continuous improvement. I’m fully aware of AIC's rich football tradition, and while restoring the dominance of our football program will require a lot of positive energy and support, I am confident that we can achieve this together."
 
Chipka has been part of the football program since 2022, and over his three seasons at AIC has held multiple coaching roles. He began as the Tight Ends/Fullbacks and Slot Receivers Coach in 2022 before being promoted to Offensive Coordinator in 2023 and Interim Head Coach in 2024. Under his guidance as Offensive Coordinator, the Yellow Jackets’ offense became more balanced, with significant improvements in several key statistical categories. Notable gains included increases in overall touchdowns, total rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing efficiency, and average yards per catch.
 
In 2024, Chipka led the team to a 4-7 record—matching the most wins in a season since 2014. One of the season's highlights was a signature victory over Assumption University, the NE10’s top-ranked team through nine weeks of the season, with the Jackets earning a thrilling 27-24 win.
 
Chipka’s leadership has also been pivotal in the development of AIC’s players. During his tenure, seven Yellow Jackets have earned All-Conference honors, including Michael Grant (DL), Sidiki Kone (RB), Fatir Bell (WR), Dahvey Hicks (WR), Connor Dietz (QB), Edward Craig Jr. (OLB), and Marcus Thurston (FB). Hicks and Dietz earned NE10 Rookie of the Year honors in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
 
Overall, Chipka brings a decade and a half of coaching experience to AIC, beginning in Toledo, Ohio at Waite High School. In his first season, the school won a share of the Toledo City League Championship for the first time in over six decades, and the Toledo Free Press named him AP Co-Coach of the Year. He went on to coach at St. Francis de Sales, transforming a program that had gone 0-10 the year prior to his hiring into a squad that reached postseason play for the first time in 17 years.
 
Chipka was also selected twice to coach in the HBCU Pigskin Showdown as offensive coordinator. Held in Selma, Alabama in 2021 and 2022 and broadcast by NBC Sports, the event is the first college all-star game for draft-eligible players to showcase their abilities in front of professional scouts.
 
Chipka graduated from Bluffton University in Ohio, where he started at wide receiver for two seasons and was voted team captain during his senior year.  After his college career, Chipka played for the Fort Wayne Firehawks of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) for one season.

- Release provided by AIC athletic communications - 

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