Danny Welke is in his second season with the Dukes as wide receivers coach. He joined the Duquesne football staff in 2025 and added the titles of Pass Game Coordinator and Offensive Recruiting Coordinator ahead of the 2026 season.
In his first season at Duquesne, Welke helped coach AP All-America Honorable Mention, Walter Payton Award finalist and First Team All-NEC wide receiver Joey Isabella in his final season. Isabella tied for the FCS lead with 13 touchdown receptions during the regular season while leading the NEC in receptions (63) and receiving yards (839). The wide receivers room also produced 2025 NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year Ryan Petras, while five different players caught a touchdown pass. The production helped Duquesne rank as the NEC’s highest-scoring offense, averaging more than 28 points per game. The Dukes also averaged more than 180 passing yards per game while leading the league in offensive efficiency.
Welke arrived on The Bluff after a stint as an Offensive Graduate Assistant at Central Michigan University in 2024.
Welke spent two seasons at Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, helping guide the Saints to back-to-back eight-win seasons and two NCAA Division II Playoff appearances. In 2022, he served as Limestone’s Offensive Analyst and Quarterbacks Coach, contributing to one of the nation’s most improved offenses, which averaged 34.8 points and 464.3 yards per game. In 2023, he was promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator, leading the Saints to 5,375 total yards, which ranked first in the conference and 15th nationally, while developing a quarterback who earned South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors and was a Harlon Hill finalist.
Prior to Limestone, Welke coached at his alma mater, Marshall High School in Michigan, as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2020-21. He also was a quarterbacks instructor at QBU in Detroit from 2019-22.
Welke played quarterback at Albion College, where he earned two letters after transferring from Western Michigan. He also starred in football, basketball and baseball at Marshall High School, throwing for more than 4,000 career yards and 41 touchdowns.
A native of Marshall, Michigan, Welke earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Albion College in 2019. His father, Bill Welke, is a retired Major League Baseball umpire.
