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University of Massachusets Athletics
Football
Carrel, Dan
Dan Carrel
- Title:
- Analyst
- Location:
- Football Performance Center
- E-Mail:
- dcarrel@umass.edu
Alma Mater: West Liberty ‘12
Season at Massachusetts: Second
Dan Carrel begins his second season as a member of the University of Massachusetts football staff and his first in the role of linebackers coach in 2021.
Prior to his elevation into his current role, Carrel served as a defensive analyst for the Minutemen and worked closely with defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo and the linebacking unit. During the four-game season, linebackers Cole McCubrey and Mike Ruane finished No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles with a combined 64 made, including 5.0 TFLs.
Prior to his arrival at UMass, Carrel spent one year at New Mexico as the team’s inside linebackers coach in 2019. Carrel tutored a pair of impact performers for the Lobos in Alex Hart and Alexander Vainikolo during his lone season at UNM. Hart, an all-Mountain West Conference honoree, filled the stats sheet with a team-leading 82 tackles as well as 11.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Vainikolo posted a team-best 11.5 TFLs among his 76 tackles (second-most on the team) and also added 3.0 sacks.
Carrel held multiple roles as a member of the University of Houston coaching staff for four seasons, including two as a graduate assistant (2015, ’16) followed by two as the program’s outside linebackers coach (2017, ’18).
The Houston defense ranked nationally in a multitude of categories during Carrel’s four seasons, including fourth in rushing defense and 13th for total defense during 2016. The Flushing, Ohio, native tutored a pair of all-AAC standouts during his two seasons as the OLBs coach, including Emeke Egbule in 2019 and Khalil Williams during 2018.
The Cougars reached the postseason in all four of Carrel’s years with the program with appearances in the 2015 Peach Bowl, 2016 Las Vegas Bowl, 2017 Hawai’i Bowl and 2018 Armed Forces Bowl. During his tenure, Houston went a combined 37-15 overall and 22-10 in the AAC.
Carrel previously served on-staff at Ohio State (2013) and Kentucky (2014) following graduation from West Liberty University (W.Va.), where he played linebacker for the Hilltoppers from 2008-11. He began his coaching career at West Liberty as a graduate assistant in 2012.
Carrel • Season-By-Season Coaching History
2012 • West Liberty University • Graduate Assistant
2013 • Ohio State • Graduate Assistant (Offense)
2014 • Kentucky • Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2015-16 • Houston • Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2017-18 • Houston • Outside Linebackers Coach
2019 • New Mexico • Inside Linebackers Coach
2020 • Massachusetts • Defensive Analyst
2021 • Massachusetts • Linebackers Coach
Carrel • Postseason Coaching History
2013 • Ohio State • Orange Bowl
2015 • Houston • Peach Bowl
2016 • Houston • Las Vegas Bowl
2017 • Houston • Hawai’i Bowl
2018 • Houston • Armed Forces Bowl
Season at Massachusetts: Second
Dan Carrel begins his second season as a member of the University of Massachusetts football staff and his first in the role of linebackers coach in 2021.
Prior to his elevation into his current role, Carrel served as a defensive analyst for the Minutemen and worked closely with defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo and the linebacking unit. During the four-game season, linebackers Cole McCubrey and Mike Ruane finished No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles with a combined 64 made, including 5.0 TFLs.
Prior to his arrival at UMass, Carrel spent one year at New Mexico as the team’s inside linebackers coach in 2019. Carrel tutored a pair of impact performers for the Lobos in Alex Hart and Alexander Vainikolo during his lone season at UNM. Hart, an all-Mountain West Conference honoree, filled the stats sheet with a team-leading 82 tackles as well as 11.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Vainikolo posted a team-best 11.5 TFLs among his 76 tackles (second-most on the team) and also added 3.0 sacks.
Carrel held multiple roles as a member of the University of Houston coaching staff for four seasons, including two as a graduate assistant (2015, ’16) followed by two as the program’s outside linebackers coach (2017, ’18).
The Houston defense ranked nationally in a multitude of categories during Carrel’s four seasons, including fourth in rushing defense and 13th for total defense during 2016. The Flushing, Ohio, native tutored a pair of all-AAC standouts during his two seasons as the OLBs coach, including Emeke Egbule in 2019 and Khalil Williams during 2018.
The Cougars reached the postseason in all four of Carrel’s years with the program with appearances in the 2015 Peach Bowl, 2016 Las Vegas Bowl, 2017 Hawai’i Bowl and 2018 Armed Forces Bowl. During his tenure, Houston went a combined 37-15 overall and 22-10 in the AAC.
Carrel previously served on-staff at Ohio State (2013) and Kentucky (2014) following graduation from West Liberty University (W.Va.), where he played linebacker for the Hilltoppers from 2008-11. He began his coaching career at West Liberty as a graduate assistant in 2012.
Carrel • Season-By-Season Coaching History
2012 • West Liberty University • Graduate Assistant
2013 • Ohio State • Graduate Assistant (Offense)
2014 • Kentucky • Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2015-16 • Houston • Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2017-18 • Houston • Outside Linebackers Coach
2019 • New Mexico • Inside Linebackers Coach
2020 • Massachusetts • Defensive Analyst
2021 • Massachusetts • Linebackers Coach
Carrel • Postseason Coaching History
2013 • Ohio State • Orange Bowl
2015 • Houston • Peach Bowl
2016 • Houston • Las Vegas Bowl
2017 • Houston • Hawai’i Bowl
2018 • Houston • Armed Forces Bowl
2025 Massachusetts Football - Week 3 (Iowa) Monday Press Conference
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UMass FB | Joe Harasymiak Post Game Press Conference vs Bryant | 09.06.25
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2025 Massachusetts Football - Week 2 (Bryant) Monday Press Conference
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UMass FB | Jacquon Gibson Postgame Press Conference vs. Temple | 08.30.25
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