Dan Stekala joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2024 as a graduate assistant coach for the football team. The 2024-25 season will mark Stekala’s first year as graduate assistant coach.
At St. Francis, Stekala assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, assisting in training sessions, and implementation of game strategies.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Stekala spent two seasons (2022-23) as a varsity high school head football coach for Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Ill. During his time at Farragut, Stekala spearheaded the launch of the football program, while also serving as an instructor of physical education.
Stekala began his coaching career in 2017 as the Defensive Coordinator for the freshman team at St. Laurence High School in Burbank, Ill. He served in this position through the 2018 season, before taking on the role of Defensive Coordinator of the junior varsity team at Oak Lawn High School in 2021. During his three seasons (2021-2023) with the Spartans, Stekala also assisted with running backs and linebackers.
Stekala graduated from Trinity Christian College in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He is certified and licensed in First Aid/CPR, and has obtained an ASEP Coaching License. He is currently working on his Master's Degree in Business Management from University of St. Francis (Ill.), and is expected to graduate in December of 2025.
