University of North Dakota Athletics

Danny Freund returns to North Dakota to lead the the Fighting Hawks’ offense in 2026 and also serve as the quarterbacks coach.
 
Freund's second tenure on staff begins after serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State during the 2025 season and co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at South Dakota State in 2024.

Washington State capped Freund's only season at the helm of the offense with a 34-21 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Freund's offense generated 628 total yards in the bowl win, including 373 through the air and 255 on the ground. It was the Cougars' first postseason victory since winning the 2018 Alamo Bowl.

In his lone season with the Jackrabbits, quarterback Mark Granowski earned Stats Perform FCS All-America honors after throwing for 2,719 yards and 18 touchdowns. SDSU's offense ranked fourth nationally in scoring at 36.7 ppg and scored 40-plus points on eight different occasions. The Jackrabbits advanced to the FCS Semifinals in 2024.

He previously spent 13 seasons on the North Dakota coaching staff from 2011–23, including the final five as offensive coordinator. He was also the associate head coach for his final season in 2023.
 
During his most recent stint with the Fighting Hawks, Freund helped guide UND to the 2023 FCS Playoffs while the offense ranked among the national leaders in efficiency. North Dakota finished the season ranked No. 3 in the FCS in completion percentage, No. 5 in fewest turnovers and No. 7 in third-down conversion percentage. Quarterback Tommy Schuster closed his career as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions under Freund’s direction.
 
Freund was part of multiple postseason and championship runs during his previous tenure at UND. North Dakota reached the FCS Playoffs five times, captured a trio of conference titles and advanced to the quarterfinals in 2020.
 
As a player, Freund went 16-6 as a two-year starter for the Fighting Sioux, finishing his career as the program’s most accurate passer. His 68.9 career completion percentage still tops the charts and he also owns the top single-season completion mark of 71.9 that he set as a senior in 2008. He threw for 5,239 yards and 47 touchdowns, which rank fifth and fourth on the all-time career lists at UND.
 
Freund earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and his master’s degree in educational leadership from North Dakota.

He and his wife, Ann, have three children: Jocelyn, Tucker and Jillian.