Erik Karlson enters his first year as the Special Teams Coordinator and Linebackers Coach for the football program at the University of Chicago in the 2025-26 academic year.
Karlson arrives in Hyde Park from Union College in New York where he spent the 2024 season working with the outside linebackers.
Prior to his time at Union College, Karlson spent three seasons at Worcester State University where he spent the past three seasons working as an assistant coach, working primarily with the defensive line and linebackers. He also handled special teams duties at both prior stops.
Karlson also spent two seasons coaching in the high school ranks in 2019 and 2020 at Hudson High School and Clinton High School in Massachusetts.
Karlson graduated from Springfield College in 2019 with degrees in Mathematics and Education, and he played four years as an offensive lineman for the Pride.
