Catholic University football coach Mike Gutelius gets a big embrace from William Cavallaro on the Cardinals' senior day last month. Photo by Mike Atherton, d3photography.com

Catholic University Vincent & Ellen Sica Endowed head football coach Mike Gutelius will step down as the leader of the football program after spending the last eight seasons at the helm of the team. Gutelius will remain a member of the Catholic athletics staff, stepping into his new role of Special Assistant to the Athletic Director.

During his tenure, Gutelius raised the standard of the program by putting together five seasons of a .500 or better record, including a four-year stretch from 2021-2024, the longest such streak the team has had since the late 90’s. In 2021 and 2022 Catholic put together back-to-back six wins seasons, culminating in an appearance in the New England Bowl at the end of the 2022 season. 

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Gutelius and his coaching staff also earned multiple Coaching Staff of the Year awards as the 2022 NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year and the 2024 Landmark Coaching Staff of the Year. He guided his team to a 6-5 record while going 5-1 in conference play during the 2022 season while having 12 players selected to the All-NEWMAC teams, including six First Team selections. In 2024, despite having to miss time on the sidelines while dealing with a health matter, Gutelius’ squad battled and showed resolve throughout the year to complete a fourth straight season at .500 or better, going 5-5 overall and 3-3 in Landmark play. 

“It has been an honor to hold the position of head football coach at Catholic over these past nine years, and I am grateful to still have the opportunity to work with the student-athletes within this department in a different capacity moving forward,” said Gutelius. “I am very proud of the young men that I had the opportunity of coaching and will always appreciate the sacrifice and commitment that was given to the program by them during my time here. I played here in the early ’90s and then moved into coaching as a great challenge. I think stepping into this new role will also provide its challenges but I think being able to help across the entirety of the athletic department is another version of me adding skills to my plate.”

Over the course of his tenure, Gutelius coached 28 All-NEWMAC selections and 21 All-Landmark Conference selections. He also had six players who were selected to the D3football.com All-Region team. Gutelius’ student athletes were also successful in the classroom with 15 CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-District honorees as well as the 2025 Landmark Senior Scholar-Athlete.

"In Coach Gut's eight years, the football program has reestablished itself as a contender in our region and we are deeply grateful for all of the energy and passion he has given this program,” said Kevin Robinson, Vice President for Athletics and Recreation. “As we begin a national search for the next head football coach at Catholic, we know that the program has created a strong foundation, thanks to Coach Gut's guidance, for which the next coach to build upon."  

In his new role as Special Assistant to the Athletic Director, Gutelius will assist in delivering on the mission of the university to the members of the athletic department, primarily its student-athletes. He will provide major support in launching the Virtuous Leadership Program within the department with the collaboration of Campus Ministry to focus on the spiritual formation, leadership development, prayer opportunities, service programming, and mission integration across all 25 varsity sports.

"For the past eight seasons, Coach Gutelius has given everything to the young men in our football program, helping to holistically form them into the best version of themselves,” said Robinson. “Coach Gut’s commitment to the university's mission is unwavering and in this new role he will be able to take that energy and apply it to the entire athletic department.  We are excited to have Coach continue to work with the Catholic University student-athletes in this new role." 

During the search process for a new head coach of the program, assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, Brandon Beech, will serve as the interim head coach of Catholic football. 

A national search will immediately begin for a new head coach of the Catholic football program with the aim of getting the position filled as quickly as possible.