| David Elson | |
| Current Title: | Defensive analyst |
| Current Team: | Wake Forest |
| Current Conference: | ACC |
| Birth Date: | 26 August 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1990–1993 |
| Player Team1: | Butler |
| Player Positions: | Safety |
| Coach Years1: | 1994–1995 |
| Coach Team1: | Southern Illinois (GA) |
| Coach Years2: | 1996–2000 |
| Coach Team2: | Western Kentucky (DB) |
| Coach Years3: | 2001–2002 |
| Coach Team3: | Western Kentucky (DC) |
| Coach Years4: | 2003–2009 |
| Coach Team4: | Western Kentucky |
| Coach Years5: | 2010 |
| Coach Team5: | Indiana (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 2011 |
| Coach Team6: | Franklin-Simpson HS (KY) (DC) |
| Coach Years7: | 2012–2013 |
| Coach Team7: | New Mexico State (DC) |
| Coach Years8: | 2014 |
| Coach Team8: | Southern Illinois (DB) |
| Coach Years9: | 2015 |
| Coach Team9: | Southern Illinois (DC) |
| Coach Years10: | 2016 |
| Coach Team10: | Western Illinois (DC) |
| Coach Years11: | 2017–2019 |
| Coach Team11: | Ball State (DC) |
| Coach Years12: | 2020 |
| Coach Team12: | Marian (IN) (DC) |
| Coach Years13: | 2021 |
| Coach Team13: | Purdue (QC) |
| Coach Years14: | 2022 |
| Coach Team14: | Purdue (LB) |
| Coach Years15: | 2023 |
| Coach Team15: | Wake Forest (analyst) |
| Overall Record: | 39–44 |
David Elson (born August 26, 1971) is an American football coach. He is the defensive analyst at Wake Forest University, a position he has held since 2023.[1] Elson served as head football coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) from 2003 to 2009.[2] [3] He oversaw the transition of Western Kentucky from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) to a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) program, the highest division in college football; in his final season, the Hilltoppers joined the Sun Belt Conference.
Elson joined the Hilltoppers staff as a defensive backs coach in 1996. He served as defensive coordinator for the 2001 and 2002 season before he was promoted to head coach.[4] The rise to college football's highest level was difficult for the program, and Hilltoppers went 2-20 in Elson's final two seasons.
On November 9, 2009 Elson was fired by the university, finishing out the 2009 season. WKU alumnus and Stanford running backs coach Willie Taggart replaced him.[5]
In March 2010, Indiana University head football coach Bill Lynch announced that Elson will be a defensive quality control coach. Coach Lynch noted this would mainly be an administrative role, but that he would be involved in coaching decisions. The Hoosiers made their first road trip of the year to play Elson's former team, the WKU Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Elson spent the 2011 football season as defensive coordinator for KHSAA state finalist Franklin-Simpson High School in Franklin, Kentucky.
On January 4, 2012, Elson was announced as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State University.[6]
On January 13, 2013, Elson was announced as the new secondary coach for the Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he was a graduate assistant from 94 to 95. On January 20, 2016, after two years at Southern Illinois, Elson accepted the position as defensive coordinator at Western Illinois under new head coach Charlie Fisher.
Elson and his wife, Kathy, have three daughters.[7]