DingoTalk

🎙️ Building Calvin Football with Head Coach Trent Figg | DingoTalk

This week on DingoTalk, we welcome Calvin University Head Football Coach Trent Figg for a conversation about his coaching journey and the work behind building the Knights’ football program.

Starting a program means establishing traditions, setting expectations, and giving players something to build together. Get to know Coach Figg and the vision guiding Calvin football as the Knights continue writing their story in Division III.

🏈 Coach Figg’s path into coaching
🏈 Building a program and establishing its identity
🏈 Leadership, relationships, and player development
🏈 What Calvin offers prospective student-athletes
🏈 The future of Knights football

Whether you’re a Calvin supporter, a recruit or parent, or a fan of Division III football, join us for a closer look at the coach and people behind the program.

👍 Like the episode, subscribe to DingoTalk, and share it with another college football fan.
💬 What would you like to see next from Calvin football? Let us know in the comments!

🎧 DingoTalk is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#DingoTalk #CalvinFootball #TrentFigg #CalvinUniversity #D3Football #DivisionIII #CollegeFootball

🎙️ This week on DingoTalk, we welcome Endicott College Head Football Coach Paul McGonagle!

Get to know the coach leading the Gulls in a conversation about his football journey, his approach to leadership, and Endicott football. It’s an opportunity for recruits, families, alumni, and Division III fans to learn more about the person behind the headset and the program he leads.

DingoTalk puts the spotlight on the people and programs that make Division III football special—and this week, that spotlight shines on Endicott.

👍 Like the episode, leave a comment, and subscribe for more conversations with coaches from across the D3 football landscape. Share this episode with an Endicott fan!

Video credit: @bmalmedia and @EndicottFB

🎧 DingoTalk is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#D3FB #DingoTalk #Endicott #EndicottFootball #GoGulls #DivisionIIIFootball

🎙️ DingoTalk welcomes Wesleyan University Head Football Coach Dan DiCenzo!

This week, Coach DiCenzo joins us for a one-on-one conversation about his coaching journey, leading the Cardinals, and what makes Wesleyan football special.

Get a closer look at his approach to building relationships, developing student-athletes, and creating a program that values success on the field and in the classroom.

Whether you’re a recruit, parent, coach, Cardinals supporter, or Division III football fan, this episode offers an inside look at the people and purpose behind Wesleyan football.

👍 Like the episode, subscribe to DingoTalk, and share it with another D3 football fan!
💬 What stood out from the conversation? Tell us in the comments.

🎧 DingoTalk is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#D3FB #DingoTalk #WesleyanFootball #WesleyanUniversity #NESCAC #CollegeFootball

🎙️ DingoTalk welcomes Lewis & Clark College Head Football Coach Brett Elliott!

In this week’s episode, Coach Elliott joins us for an in-depth conversation about his football journey, his transition into coaching, and the work behind building a competitive program at Lewis & Clark.

We discuss:

🏈 Coach Elliott’s journey from player to head coach
🏈 The lessons he has carried from his playing career into coaching
🏈 Building a winning culture at Lewis & Clark
🏈 Recruiting the right student-athletes to the Pacific Northwest
🏈 Developing players and creating lasting relationships
🏈 Competing in the Northwest Conference
🏈 The growth of the Pioneers program
🏈 His vision for the future of Lewis & Clark football

This conversation gives recruits, families, alumni, coaches, and Division III football fans an inside look at Lewis & Clark football—and the leadership, culture, and belief driving the program forward.

If you enjoy honest conversations with the people shaping Division III football, subscribe to DingoTalk, like the episode, and share it with another D3 football fan.

🎧 DingoTalk is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#D3FB #DingoTalk #LewisAndClarkFootball #LewisAndClarkCollege #NWCfootball #CollegeFootball #DivisionIII

🎙️ DingoTalk welcomes Middlebury College Head Football Coach Doug Mandigo!

In this week’s episode, Coach Mandigo joins us for an in-depth conversation about his journey through football, taking over the Middlebury program, and what it takes to compete in the NESCAC.

We discuss:

🏈 Coach Mandigo’s path to becoming a head coach
🏈 The responsibility of leading Middlebury football
🏈 Building a strong and sustainable program culture
🏈 Recruiting the right student-athletes for Middlebury
🏈 Balancing high-level academics with college football
🏈 Developing players on and off the field
🏈 What makes the NESCAC such a unique conference
🏈 The current direction and future of the Panthers program

This conversation gives recruits, families, alumni, coaches, and Division III football fans an inside look at Middlebury football and the leadership behind the program.

If you enjoy honest conversations with the people shaping Division III football, subscribe to DingoTalk, like the episode, and share it with another D3 football fan.

🎧 DingoTalk is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#D3FB #DingoTalk #MiddleburyFootball #MiddleburyCollege #NESCAC #CollegeFootball #DivisionIII

🎙️ DingoTalk welcomes Howard Payne University head football coach Coby Gipson!

In this week’s episode, Coach Gipson joins the show to discuss his coaching journey, the responsibility of leading the Yellow Jackets, and his vision for building a successful program at Howard Payne.

🏈 Inside the episode:

• Coach Gipson’s path through the coaching profession

• What attracted him to Howard Payne University

• Building a strong and lasting program culture

• Recruiting student-athletes who fit the university and the football program

• Developing players on and off the field

• Competing in the challenging landscape of Texas Division III football

• The lessons that have shaped his leadership style

• What recruits, families, alumni, and fans should know about the future of Howard Payne football

This conversation goes beyond wins and losses. It’s about leadership, relationships, player development, and creating an experience that prepares student-athletes for life after football.

If you’re a Division III football fan, prospective student-athlete, parent, young coach, or proud member of the Howard Payne community, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

👍 Like the episode

💬 Leave your thoughts in the comments

🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more conversations from across Division III football

Follow DingoTalk on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and social media for more interviews, roundtables, and coverage from around the #d3fb world.

Enjoy, chuckleheads!

#DingoTalk #D3FB #HowardPayne #HowardPayneFootball #ASCfootball #CollegeFootball #DivisionIII #TexasFootball

DingoTalk: Richard Sanchez, University of La Verne

Division III football is back — and we’re heading to Southern California for this week’s DingoTalk.

Joining us is Richard Sanchez, Head Football Coach at the University of La Verne, for a conversation about his journey through the game, building the Leopards, and what lies ahead for La Verne football.

🏈 Inside University of La Verne Football

Coach Sanchez takes us inside the program and talks about what makes La Verne a unique place to play college football — from the university and Southern California experience to the culture the Leopards are working to establish on the field.

🎓 The Journey to La Verne

We dive into Coach Sanchez’s football story, the experiences that shaped him as a coach and leader, and ultimately what brought him to the University of La Verne.

🟢 Building the Leopards

What does building a successful Division III football program look like today?

We discuss recruiting, player development, establishing standards, creating buy-in and the importance of finding student-athletes who fit both the football program and the university.

🔥 The 2026 Season

With another D3 football season here, Coach Sanchez gives us a look at the Leopards heading into 2026 — what this team has been working toward, where the program has grown and what La Verne fans should be excited about this fall.

We also get Coach Sanchez’s perspective on the changing landscape of Division III football and what he believes makes the D3 experience special.

If you’re a La Verne fan, D3 football junkie, prospective student-athlete, parent or young coach, this is another opportunity to get an inside look at the people and programs that make Division III football what it is.

🎙️ DingoTalk is about telling the stories of Division III football — one coach, one program and one conversation at a time.

👍 Like the video

💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments

🔔 Subscribe for more D3 football interviews, roundtables and coverage throughout the 2026 season.

Enjoy, Chuckleheads.

#d3fb #DingoTalk #LaVerneFootball #LeopardFootball #SCIAC #DivisionIII #D3Football #CollegeFootball #UniversityOfLaVerne

🎙️ DingoTalk: From the Sidelines — A D3FB Coaches Roundtable

What’s behind the rise of high-academic football in Division III?

In this episode of DingoTalk: From the Sidelines, we’re joined by three accomplished Division III head coaches for an in-depth conversation about recruiting, retention, culture, and the growing national impact of high-academic programs.

🏈 Chris Robertson – WPI

🏈 BJ Hammer – Bowdoin College

🏈 Ryan Larsen – Carnegie Mellon University

Together, they tackle one central question:

👉 Has the high-academic model become an advantage in Division III football?

🎓 Recruiting at High-Academic Institutions

• How has recruiting changed over the last decade?

• Are high-academic programs attracting a different type of student-athlete?

• How much of the recruiting pitch is academics versus football?

• Are recruits and families thinking more about long-term outcomes?

🚨 Retention, Culture & Player Fit

• Why do players stay?

• How important is finding the right fit when building a roster?

• Does fit matter more today than simply finding the most talented player?

• How do coaches keep players engaged while balancing demanding academics and football?

• Can great culture overcome a talent gap?

🏆 National Success & The Future of D3 Football

• Are high-academic institutions changing the national landscape?

• Has competitive balance shifted?

• What gives a D3 program the biggest advantage today: academics, resources, culture, or recruiting?

• What will Division III football look like five years from now?

⚡ Plus, the Lightning Round

Academics or culture? Recruiting or retention? One thing they’d change tomorrow? And one word to describe the future of D3 football.

We close with a question that gets to the heart of the Division III experience:

👉 What makes Division III football such a good fit for the student-athletes you serve?

Three programs. Three perspectives. One conversation about where high-academic football fits into the changing landscape of #d3fb.

🎙️ DingoTalk: From the Sidelines

Robertson • Hammer • Larsen

#d3fb #DingoTalk #DivisionIII #CollegeFootball #WPI #Bowdoin #CarnegieMellon

Player development has always been the foundation of Division III football—but in today’s game, developing players also means keeping them engaged, connected, and committed to your program.

In this episode of DingoTalk: From the Sidelines, we’re joined by two respected Division III head coaches for a thoughtful conversation about the challenges of building players, strengthening culture, and leading successful programs in today’s college football landscape.

🏈 Andy Fries – Ohio Northern University

🏈 Todd Parsons – Curry College

Together, they tackle one of the biggest questions facing Division III football today:

👉 Developing Players and Keeping Teams Together in Modern D3 Football

From offseason development and spring football to retention, technology, and the evolving role of today’s coach, this episode explores what it takes to build successful student-athletes and sustainable programs.

🏆 Offseason Development & Spring Football

• What does player development look like in today’s game?

• Has the approach to development changed over the last several years?

• Should Division III evolve its spring football model?

• Are coaches maximizing the opportunities they have with players?

🏆 Retention, Engagement & Team Building

• Why are players leaving programs?

• How do coaches keep non-starters engaged and invested?

• What creates real buy-in within a team?

• Has retention become harder than recruiting?

🏆 Technology, Staffing & The Future of Coaching

• How much technology is too much?

• How do coaches balance innovation with personal relationships?

• How are smaller coaching staffs adapting to increasing demands?

• What does the future of coaching look like in Division III football?

Plus, don’t miss our Lightning Round, where each coach shares:

⚡ Which is the bigger challenge—development or retention?

⚡ One thing they’d change tomorrow

⚡ The most important part of their program’s culture

⚡ One word that defines their team

Whether you’re a coach, player, recruit, parent, or lifelong #d3fb fan, this conversation offers practical insight into the day-to-day realities of building players, strengthening culture, and leading successful Division III football programs.

👍 If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us continue growing the Division III football community.

Building a successful Division III football program has never been more challenging—or more rewarding.

In this episode of DingoTalk: From the Sidelines, we’re joined by three accomplished Division III head coaches for an in-depth roundtable discussion on what it really takes to build and sustain a winning program in today’s college football landscape.

🏈 Mike Turk – Huntingdon College

🏈 Mike Budziszewski – Carroll University

🏈 Jake Marshall – Ripon College

Together, they tackle one of the biggest questions facing Division III football:

👉 How Do You Build a Program in Modern Division III Football?

From recruiting and player development to retention and culture, these coaches share honest insight into the realities of leading successful programs in an ever-changing game.

🏆 Recruiting in Today’s D3 Landscape

• How has recruiting changed over the last several years?

• Who are programs competing against for prospects?

• What separates one program from another?

• Is geography still a major factor in recruiting?

🏆 Development, Spring Football & Maximizing Players

• Are Division III programs doing enough to develop players?

• Should spring football continue to evolve?

• How do coaches maximize player development with limited resources?

• Can better development improve long-term retention?

🏆 Retention, Culture & Building Something Sustainable

• What keeps players committed to a program?

• How do successful programs build and protect their culture?

• Is culture alone enough to retain today’s student-athletes?

• What does every successful Division III football program need?

Plus, stay for our Lightning Round, where each coach shares:

⚡ Recruiting or retention—which is harder?

⚡ One change they’d make to Division III football tomorrow

⚡ The most important part of their program

⚡ One word that defines their team’s culture

Whether you’re a coach, player, recruit, parent, or lifelong #d3fb fan, this conversation offers valuable insight into what it truly takes to build a championship-caliber Division III football program.

👍 If you enjoyed the discussion, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us continue growing the Division III football community.

#D3FB #DivisionIII #CollegeFootball #DingoTalk #FromTheSidelines #HuntingdonFootball #CarrollFootball #RiponFootball #FootballCoaches #Recruiting #PlayerDevelopment #CollegeSports