Wilfrid Laurier University loses head football coach to the Western Mustangs

Michael Faulds, Wilfrid Laurier University's head football coach, is taking on a new job with one of the team’s rivals. CTV’s Krista Simpson

The Golden Hawks have lost their long-term football coach to one of their rivals.

Western University announced Monday they had hired Michael Faulds, the man who has headed Wilfrid Laurier University’s football program since 2013.

Under his leadership, the Golden Hawks were undefeated in their 2024 and 2025 seasons. The 42-year-old, who hails from Eden Mills, also took the team to five Yates Cup championships. The Golden Hawks took home the title in 2016 and again in 2024.

Faulds also received multiple awards during his tenure at WLU, including being named U SPORTS Coach of the Year in 2025, 2024 and 2016.

Last January, Faulds extended his contract with Laurier through the 2030 season.

“We’re really grateful for the time, energy and commitment that Michael provided to Laurier. We’re certainly sad to see him go, but also really excited to continue to pursue the dynamic program that we have,” Kate McCrae Bristol, WLU’s vice-president of Student Affairs, said. “Michael has a real knack for seeking and producing excellence in everything surrounding the football program. I think he would also suggest, and recognize, how important the legacy and the history and the contributions of the coaches, players and alumni who have come before him and really ensured that he leveraged that to continue to build a legacy program.”

“We are still in the middle of building a dynasty, from a Laurier football perspective, and he contributed to that,” she added.

Faulds has a lot of history with Western. He played for the team from 2005 to 2009 and earned two degrees at the school.

“My wife Stacey and I met in London at Western,” Faulds told CTV News. “Her family’s here. And there’s always that excitement of coming home to where you played. As much as I loved my time at Laurier, there’s something special that drew me [to London].”

In a media release, Western called him “one of the Mustangs’ greatest quarterbacks of all time” as he “led the team to two Yates Cup Championships under Greg Marshall’s mentorship.”

Faulds is taking over for Marshall, who is retiring from the university.

“I’m thrilled for this opportunity to lead the Western Mustangs football program and come back to the place I played for five amazing years of my life,” Faulds said in a media release. “I was fortunate to have played for two legendary coaches in Larry Haylor and Greg Marshall, and I will do everything in my power to respect the tradition and legacy they have laid and make everyone proud of the team we put out on the field each and every year.”

The Mustangs were happy to have him back, writing on social media: “Welcome home, Coach Faulds.”

Wilfrid Laurier University has some big shoes to fill.

“An announcement regarding the next head coach of the Golden Hawks football program will be made soon,” they promised.

In the meantime, the team will be overseen by Assistant Coach Ron Van Moerkerke and Student-Athlete Development & Receivers Coach Todd Galloway.

“We’re very, very fortunate to have two strong leaders still a part of our program,” McCrae Bristol told CTV News.

When asked what Laurier was looking for in a new head coach, McCrae Bristol said they wanted someone who could be community ambassador and guide student athletes on and off the gridiron.