Dan Thurin enters his seventh season with the Prairie Wolves, after spending seven seasons as an assistant coach and head strength coach at Doane College. Thurin currently serves as the linebackers coach for the NWU defense. The Geneva, Neb., native was in charge of Doane’s linebackers before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2003.

As a player for Doane, he was a four-year letter winner and a two-time All-Conference selection. In 1997, he earned Second Team All-America honors as the Tigers went 11-1 and advanced to the NAIA Semifinals, losing by just a single point to the eventual national champions. Thurin’s sack totals in 1996 (11.5) and 1997 (10) rank first and second in team history. He also played professionally for the Lincoln Lightning in 1999 and in the German Pro League in 2000.

Thurin earned both his undergraduate (Physical Education in 1998) and graduate (Management with Leadership emphasis in 2005) degrees from Doane. He is also employed by ArtFX.