Bio

Coach MD Daniels enters his second season on the Bethel football staff in 2024-25. He serves as co-offensive coordinator, pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

Prior to arriving at Bethel, Daniels was the head football coach and defensive coordinator at Iowa Wesleyan University for two seasons. Iowa Wesleyan finished the 2022 season with the program's most wins in a single season in a decade. Coach Daniels received national recognition by being named to the AFCA 35 Under 35 class which features the top rising coaches under the age of 35. During his two seasons at Iowa Wesleyan, Daniels coached one NAIA All-American and 12 All-Conference selections. His team boasted one of the best defenses in school history which broke four school records. His offense and defense finished with a top 20 national ranking in eight different categories in the NAIA.

Daniels was the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for Iowa Wesleyan for the 2019 season. That year, his defense ranked first in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in blocked kicks and forced fumbles and second in total tackles for loss. The Tigers ranked 26th nationally in total defense.

Before Iowa Wesleyan, Coach Daniels spent five years at McMurry University. During that time, the War Hawks competed two seasons at the NCAA Division II level and three years at the NCAA Division III level. Daniels coached three first team All-NCCAA All-Americans, Desmond Guy (2013), Marlon Jackson (2015) and Chase Franklin (2015). He coached one second team All-ASC (American Southwest Conference) player, an ASC Defensive Freshman of the Year, two All-ASC players and one ASC Newcomer of the Year. He was a key component in McMurry's defense that ranked second in the ASC in total defense (2015), rush defense (2015) and pass defense (2014). McMurry ranked first in the nation in defensive touchdowns in 2016.

A native of Lake Jackson, Texas, Daniels is a 2013 graduate of McMurry University in Texas where he obtained a bachelor's degree in math education. Coach Daniels resides in McKenzie with his wife Chyna and daughter Riley.