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Weber State football assistant coach Joe Dale is seen on the sidelines Nov. 9, 2019, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Weber State football assistant coach Joe Dale gestures while coaching in this undated photo at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

Robert Casey, WSU Athletics

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Joe Dale

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OGDEN — After seven seasons at Weber State, Joe Dale is taking the reins as defensive coordinator for the Wildcats.

Head coach Mickey Mental informed the team and coaching staff this week that Dale will have solo charge of the defense.

“I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity,” Dale, also the safeties coach, told the Standard-Examiner. “I appreciate coach Mental for trusting me with this opportunity … I’ve been looking forward to, a step I wanted to make in my career.

“I’m grateful to continue coaching players that mean a lot to me at a place that means a lot to me.”

Dale and former linebackers/defensive line coach Grant Duff have shared co-defensive coordinator duties for the last four seasons at Weber State. Duff departed the staff two weeks ago, hired by Idaho State to be its defensive coordinator.

“Not exactly how I wanted it to happen … but I’m excited about it,” Dale said. “I’m grateful for my time with Grant and loved coaching with him. And I’m excited that we both get the opportunity, I think it will be great for both of us and is something we both needed.”

Dale, a Texas native, is a former defensive back from the University of Utah who coached in high school and at Minot State before coming to Weber State in 2018.

“He connects with people and does a really good job connecting with his players and getting the most out of them,” Mental said. “Very intelligent defensive coach, X’s and O’s wise … playing at Utah, playing in the system, coaching in the system.

“I like the even keel he brings. I think he’s going to push them, get the most out of them every day, and I’m excited to continue to work with him.”

Dale said he is even-keeled but also looks forward to using some passion to put his stamp on the defense.

“His guys play for him, he’s intelligent and he’s done a great job coaching here,” former head coach Jay Hill said in 2021 upon Dale’s promotion to co-defensive coordinator.

Dale also understands the need for WSU’s defense to improve after turning in a 2024 campaign that fell short of the stout, turnover-creating unit the Wildcats usually field.

“Athleticism and violence,” Dale said in identifying his top priorities. “This last season, I don’t think we were physical enough or fast enough. … A lot of that is recruiting, getting the personnel we need, but also it’s on us to put guys in position to not think and just be ball players and react, play faster.

“I think we have to get older in some areas, get some guys that have some playing experience … but I still believe in recruiting high school kids and developing them,” he continued. “Best available, whether it’s a transfer portal guy, high school guy, junior college guy.”

Mental said he’ll take his time when it comes to replacing Duff’s position on staff, making sure he gets the best coach with the best fit in a landscape that changes daily. The coaching carousel is only beginning to turn in ways that could trickle down to Weber State.

For example, hours after Utah announced it hired former WSU assistant Jason Beck as offensive coordinator Thursday night, Utah State made its hire of Bronco Mendenhall as head coach official on Friday morning and, soon after, Sacramento State head coach Andy Thompson stepped down to rejoin Troy Taylor at Stanford.