Head coach for WLU's Golden Hawks staying on for another 5 years

Golden Hawks coach signs contract extension The man who led Laurier's football team to the national finals in 2024 will be sticking around a little longer. Colton Wiens reports.

The 2024 U Sports football coach of the year is staying with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks for another five years.

The school announced on Friday that Michael Faulds, the manager of football operations and head coach, signed on to stay in the role through the 2030 season.

“Just excited. I've bled the purple and gold Now, since 2013, and when I first arrived, I don't think I ever thought of how long I would be here,” Faulds told CTV News.

The 41-year-old will be entering his 12th season with the Golden Hawks. Faulds is the second-longest serving head coach in team history, behind Dave “Tuffy” Knight (19 seasons). Most recently, Fauls guided the team to the Vanier Cup championship game in 2024. Faulds is seven wins away from passing Gary Jeffries for the second-most coaching wins in Laurier football history (69). The program record, 99, is held by Knight.

“The goals never change for our football program. We are in the hunt for a national championship every single year and having the right person at the helm helps us get there. It plays into it in that there's a lot of eyes on our program and we certainly want to ensure that it stays that way. There's great things happening at Lurier and Michael's a large part of that,” said Kate McCrae Bristol, director of athletics and recreation at WLU.

In his time with the purple and gold, Faulds has a 63-41 record, guiding the team to four Yates Cup finals, winning two, along with winning the 2024 Uteck Bowl. Over his career, he’s been named OUA football coach of the year three times and the U Sports football coach of the year twice.

“We're absolutely thrilled. Michael Faulds is a leader not just within the department and in the sport of football across the country, but he is a pivotal member of the university community at Wilfrid Laurier,” McCrae Bristol said.

The Eden Mills, Ont. native became the head coach and manager of football operations at Wilfrid Laurier University at 29-years-old in 2013, after spending three years as the offensive coordinator at York University.

Before his coaching career, Faulds was a quarterback for the Western Mustangs, winning two Yates Cups and Yates Cup MVP awards in 2007 and 2008. Faulds was named OUA Player of the Year in 2009 and held the U SPORTS all-time single-season and career passing yards record from 2009-2015. He also represented Team Canada as a quarterback, winning a silver medal with the senior team at the 2011 IFAF World Championship in Austria.

With his earlier success with Western, Faulds said many were wondering if he would eventually make the switch to the Mustangs. However, Faulds said both Waterloo and the Golden Hawks have become home for him and his family.

“We love this community. We've grown to love it. Our kids were born and raised here, so it's a special place,” Faulds said.

McCrae Bristol would not share what Faulds is being paid over the five-year extension.

According to the Ontario Sunshine List, Faulds made a salary of $134,628 in 2023, along with $514 in benefits.

However, both said managing a Canadian university football team is more than just x's and o's.

“I think a lot of people think, well, what do you do in the off season? It's a 12 month job, you know, 60 hour weeks. It keeps us busy,” Faulds said.

Members of last years team that are still eligible practiced for the first time together this year on Friday.

Faulds said they’re already preparing for next season and hope to get back to the national final again.

“We were five points away from a Vanier Cup victory. So we've got a motivated group,” Faulds said.