Former Hobart great Ted Karras Jr. returns to Marian University

INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana native with extensive collegiate coaching experience as a head coach and a coordinator, Ted Karras Jr. is returning home to Marian University, as he has been named as head coach of the Marian University football program.

Marian University Director of Athletics Steve Downing made the announcement Thursday, concluding a national search at the position.

An introductory press conference for Coach Karras will take place in the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Hall of Champions on Wednesday, December 28, at 11 a.m. Members of the media and the public are invited to join.

Karras, a native of northwest Indiana, returns to Marian University after spending the 2022 season as a defensive analyst and the defensive line coach at St. Francis (Ind.) University. Karras was the head football coach at Walsh University from 2013-2016, and was the first football coach in Marian history, as he was tasked with leading the program serving as head coach from 2006 through 2012, culminating his first stint with the Knights as 2012 NAIA National Champions.

“I am very excited to have Coach (Ted) Karras back at Marian University,” said Marian Director of Athletics Steve Downing. “I know the type of energy he is going to bring from having worked with him during my first two years at Marian in 2011 and 2012, and I think our kids are going to love playing for him. He is a Marian guy who started our football program, and I look forward to watching him take our program to a higher level.”

Karras comes from a rich football lineage, as he is one of five members in his family to play in the NFL and one of seven members to play collegiately. Karras played high school football at Hobart High School and was an all-state and all-conference lineman for the Brickies. Karras would go on to play collegiately for Northwestern University where he was a four-year starter and a team captain for the Wildcats. In 1987 he signed as a free agent as a member of the eventual Super Bowl Champion Washington Football Team.

“I am really excited and honored for the opportunity to be back on the west side to lead the Marian Knights,” said Karras. “The opportunity to join the excitement of the Marian campus and to lead the Knights into this new era of college athletics is great, and I thank both Steve Downing and President (Daniel) Elsener for the chance to lead this program.

“I look forward to embracing and getting to know all of the returning players in the coming days, and am ready to get to work with them.”

A strong recruiter, Karras began his coaching days at the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant for Minnesota University in 1991, and in 1992 moved to Northern Illinois as the graduate assistant on the defensive line. In 1993 Karras took the role of defensive coordinator at Lake Forest College, additionally serving as the strength and conditioning coach for two seasons.

After a stint in 1995 as the defensive line coach at St. Francis (Ill.), Karras took the head coach role at Andrean High School in northwest Indiana, leading the 59ers from 1996-98. During his time at Andrean, Karras motivated his team to their first-ever IHSAA State Championship game appearance, winning three sectionals, two regionals, and one semi-state title in three seasons. Karras earned IFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year during his tenure, and has been named to the Andrean High School Hall of Fame.

Karras moved back into the collegiate ranks in 1999, taking on the offensive coordinator role at St. Xavier for four seasons. While at St. Xavier, Karras helped guide the Cougars to their first ever NAIA playoff appearance, while also helping them land in the national rankings for the first time. St. Xavier set 11 single-season offensive records with Karras as the play-caller, including total yards, first downs, and touchdowns.

In 2003 the veteran coach earned his first collegiate head coach role, taking the honor as the head coach at Rose-Hulman. In his three seasons, the Fightin’ Engineers claimed 15 all-conference honors, while Karras was honored with the D3Football.com Rookie Performance of the Year award.

Karras’ coaching career hit its stride in 2006, when he was named as the first head coach in Marian University football history. Tasked with starting and creating the Knights football program, Karras set a national record in his first tenure as the Marian coach, leading a startup team to a national champion within six seasons, as Marian won the NAIA National Championship game on December 13, 2012 for Marian’s first red banner in any sport. Twice named the AFCA NAIA Region 2 Coach of the Year, Karras held a 48-23 overall record on the Marian sidelines, posting five consecutive winning seasons from 2008-12. Karras had five NAIA All-American’s during his time as the coach, with his players earning 110 Mid-States Football Association All-Conference honors. In 2011 he was named the MSFA Coach of the Year, helping Marian win the league in both 2011 and 2012.

Following 2012, Karras was named the head coach at Walsh University, where he served from 2013-16. Karras was tasked with helping the Cavaliers transition their football program from an NAIA school to an NCAA DII program. In his time, he helped increase the program’s record in GLIAC contests, while setting multiple offensive and defensive records. Walsh earned 23 All-GLIAC honors during his four seasons as the head coach.

Ted Karras Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, currently reside in Indianapolis. They have two children, a daughter Taylor, and a son Teddy. His son Ted is the current starting center and a team captain for the Cincinnati Bengals, and won two Super Bowl Championships with the New England Patriots in 2017 and 2019.

Karras graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Education and Social Policy, and earned his M.A. at St. Xavier University in Education.

All-time Marian Head Football Coaches