University of St. Francis (III.)

Joe Curry was named the head coach of the University of St. Francis football program before the 2012 season.  In the 2001 season, he assisted with the defensive line.  In July of 2005, Curry returned to the Saints as the Defensive Coordinator, a position he held through the 2011 season.  The 2025-26 season will mark Curry’s combined 22nd year with the program, and 14th year as head coach.

As of the start of the 2025 season, Curry has compiled an overall record of 71-63 (.530) and a conference mark of 41-33 (.554).  He has managed his teams to the share of two MSFA conference titles (2015, 2021) and a highest national ranking of No. 18 in 2015 in the NAIA coaches poll.  He is a three-time MSFA Midwest League Coach of the Year recipient (2015, 2021, 2022).  He notched his first career victory on August 25, 2012 with a 44-14 score over Concordia University (Mich.).

Under his tutelage, a total of 105 players have earned MSFA All-Conference honors (52 offensive, 43 defensive, 10 special teams), with five having obtained Player of the Year statuses (three offensive, two defensive).  Curry has also seen 82 of his players receive MSFA Player of the Week awards (31 offensive, 28 defensive, 23 special teams), and three NAIA Player of the Week recognitions (one offensive, one defensive, one special teams).  Overall, he has coached a total of 13 NAIA All-Americans during his head coaching career (six offensive, five defensive, 2 all-purpose).  On the academic side, Curry has totaled 234 MSFA All-Academic honorees, as well as 87 NAIA Scholar Athletes.

In 2001, Curry first stepped into the collegiate ranks when he was named an assistant coach to the defensive line at University St. Francis.  In 2002, he accepted the position of assistant coach to the defensive line at NCAA Division II Ferris State University (Mich.) where he served through the 2004 season.  From 2005-2011, Curry returned to his alma mater to serve as the program’s Defensive Coordinator.  During these seven seasons, Curry engineered one of the NAIA’s top defensive units that in 2011 boasted the eighth-stingiest defense in the NAIA en route to a school-record 10 wins, a share of the MSFA Midwest title and an appearance in the NAIA FCS quarterfinals.  In 2008, he was tabbed the MSFA Midwest League Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding his defense to a No. 14 ranking in the NAIA in total defense.

Curry graduated from the University of St. Francis (Ill.) in May of 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in history education and later obtained his master’s in education from Ferris State University (Mich.) in 2004.  During his playing career at St. Francis, Curry was a mainstay on the USF defensive line from 1998-2000 and earned All-MSFA Midwest Second-Team accolades in 2000 and All-MIFC honorable mention recognition in 1998.  He spent his freshman season competing for Indiana State University.  A 1996 graduate of Aurora Central Catholic High School, he garnered Chicago Sun-Times and IHSA football coaches association All-State honors while playing for his father, Mike.  While at Aurora Catholic, he recorded 342 career tackles.