Nov 25, 2025 6 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

The magic of Gary Dunn is in his sincerity and commitment to PennWest California University and the Vulcans’ football program.

Dunn’s reach is long. He connects with his administration, his staff and his players.

Not only is he a great football coach. He’s a respected man who has surrounded himself with good football coaches. Dunn relates to his players, the fanbase and the alumni sees him as a real guy they can touch, converse with, and in some cases hang out with. He puts himself above no one. That’s the beauty of his ability to lead.

“Gary’s the total package,” said Bruce Wald, former sports information director at California University. “In his interview for the job, he talked the talk. He has walked the walk and then some since he got here. He’s so good with all aspects. He loves it all, the student-athletes and alumni.

“He always tells us if there is anything he can do for an alumnus to please reach out. Anything he can do he’s always willing to do to help alumni. It’s the opposite at most places.”

Dunn’s work on the field has gained notice, particularly the past two seasons when the Vulcans have made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Last season, the Vulcans won two postseason games and advanced to the quarterfinals.

California went 8-3 in the regular season this year and defeated Virginia Union, 27-24, on the road last week to move into the second round and will host Frostburg State on Saturday at’ Adamson Stadium. Kickoff is noon.

The win over Virginia Union was the 75th at California for Dunn, 52, who is in his 10th season and has a career mark of 75-27.

In 2024, the Vulcans played eight games decided by seven points or less, including two fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs, and faced champions from three different conferences.

This season, California has played seven games decided by seven points or less, winning six. It’s a testament to his players, staff and the program’s culture.

“We decided that recruiting the WPIAL, recruiting Pennsylvania and recruiting great kids was going to be a priority,” said Dunn, a four-year starter for the Vulcans from 1991-94. “We want to recruit kids who are dependable, smart, tough and love football. We wanted to get to know them and accept them into our culture. It all started with recruiting the right people.”

To do that takes a little more time, more rigor and a lot more commitment to the process.

“I think recruiting has changed,” Dunn said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and everybody wants to be fast and everybody wants to be out of the gate first and we’re not. We’re going to take our time and we’re going to go slow.

“We’re going to make sure that we get to know the kid and, more importantly, they get to know us. We’re going to make sure that we get to know the family and again, as important, the family gets to know us and how we operate.

“But with recruiting today everybody wants to throw out offers and be the first one. We’re going to take it slow and make sure we’re taking the right one.”

All in the family

Chad Salisbury is the Vulcans’ offensive coordinator. He has been an assistant for 17 seasons.

He knew of Dunn when he became the head coach. Now, he reveres him.

“When I do my recruiting thing out East, I try to explain to them who Cal is and who we are as a staff,” Salisbury explained, “and the first thing I say to them is that I’m biased because he’s my friend, but I believe our head coach is one of the best people I’ve ever met. He’s one of the most honest people I’ve ever met. … He’s going to tell you the truth.

“He connects with everybody in our program. He connects on their level whether that be the president of the university or one of our players or an assistant coach. He knows how to connect with anybody. I know I’m biased but I think we have really good people here and that is led by Gary Dunn.”

The Dunn family has opened its home and hearts to Cal. Dunn and his wife, Melissa, director of student development at California, have a daughter Sydney, a senior at California Area High School and a volleyball player.

“He wants kids to fully commit, not only to football but to get into class and make something of themselves. He goes through the arduous process to make sure it happens,” Wald said. “In a brutally competitive conference and division, he has us right there.

“He finds it exciting to walk to the pavilions in the park after games and goes up to talk with people. It gives you a good feeling about Cal football.”

Dunn is all about caring and embracing others.

“It all starts with relationships,” Dunn said. “Our guys must know we care about them off the field and they have to know that we care about their families. They have to know that we care about their academics and once a kid knows you care about him, then you can coach him as hard. If they don’t know you care then it’s a one-sided relationship.

“My wife and I try and have the guys over during the summer for dinner and last year we held Thanksgiving dinner at our house for about 25 kids. It’s all about getting them to understand that I’m not just worried about football. I want them to get a degree. I want them to be able to have options when they graduate and when they leave here, we want them to know that we care about them outside of football.”

The relationships and caring are reciprocal.

At daughter Sydney’s volleyball Senior Night, several Vulcans football players came to cheer her on.

“He is not only a coach and mentor to our student-athletes,” said athletic director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. “He is a person engaged in the community and the team is actively engaged in the community. He’s brought alumni back and is incredible in raising money for his program. He supports all of what the university is about. He instills those values to players.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him, his staff and the program. I know it takes lot of time recruiting student-athletes the way he does. He looks for that special person. He is so respectful when he meets with them and the message he sends is of proud accomplishments while being humble. He’s thankful for what he has and continues to work hard for the next game and next practice. I can’t ask for more than that.”