| COACHING RESUME |
Gustavus Adolphus College - 2022-Present
Wide Receivers Coach |
| PLAYING CAREER |
Gustavus Adolphus College - 2018-22
NCAA DIII Football and Baseball |
| EDUCATION |
| B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College - 2022 |
| HOMETOWN |
| Cold Spring, Minn. |
|
Dalton Thelen is in his third season as a member of the coaching staff for the Gustavus football team in the 2024-25 academic year.
Thelen, a 2022 Gustavus graduate, was a standout football and baseball player for the Gusties. Thelen serves primarily as the wide receivers coach for the Gusties.
In his first two years with the Gusties, Thelen has helped the team to a pair of historic seasons. Last season, Thelen helped lead the 2023 football team to its first MIAC championship game since 1987, finishing 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the MIAC. The Gusties, after defeating nationally-ranked No. 7 Saint John's for the first time in 10 years, won the Northwoods Division for the first time since the MIAC's divisional structure was created.
Thelen also worked with standout wide receiver Jake Breitbach in the 2023 season, who became the most decorated player in Gustavus football history. Breitbach, the 2023-24 Gustavus Athletics Co-Male Athelte of the Year, was a CSC First Team Academic All-American, the Bobby Bell Division III Impact Player of the Year, and a top-five finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, honoring the most outstanding football player in Division III. Breitbach was also selected as an All-American by the Associated Press (Second Team), D3football.com (Third Team), and the AFCA (Second Team), becoming just the second Gustie to receive All-America honors from three separate organizations in the same season.
Breitbach finished the regular season with 1,599 receiving yards, 110 receptions, and 13 receiving touchdowns, which put him second in all NCAA Divisions (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) for receiving yards per game (159.9), receptions per game (11.0), and total receiving yards.
As a player for the Gusties, Thelen played in 36 games as a wide receiver, running back, and kick returner. Thelen ranks eighth in program history with 1806 career receiving yards. His 17 receiving touchdowns are also tied for eighth. He was a two-time MIAC All-Conference selection and was named to the D3football.com All-Region team in 2022 as a kick returner. A 2022 team captain, Thelen was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection as well.
As a member of the Gustie baseball team, Thelen played in 71 games between two seasons in the outfield. Thelen compiled a .293 batting average on 71 hits in 242 at-bats. His 16 stolen bases in 2022 rank fifth in program history, while his 14 in 2021 are ninth. In just two seasons, Thelen compiled 30 stolen bases, which is eighth in program history. He was also named an All-Conference selection in 2021.
