WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross football is hiring Merrimack's Dan Curran to be the team's next head coach.

Curran has been the head coach at Merrimack for the last 11 seasons. The Warriors had a 53-58 record during his tenure.

"It's an absolute pleasure and honor to be named the next head football coach at Holy Cross," Curran said in a news release posted to the school's website. "My family and I are thrilled to now be a part of the Holy Cross community, and could not be more excited to get to work and compete for championship number 12."

Merrimack transitioned from Division II to Division I FCS while Curran was the coach, and the Warriors have played in their conference championship game in each of the last two seasons.

Curran is a Chelmsford, Massachusetts native and played college football at the University of New Hampshire. As a professional player, he spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, as well as in the Arena Football League.

He started coaching in 2010 as the Merrimack offensive coordinator, before being named the Warriors' head coach ahead of the 2013 season.

"Worcester has become a place for outstanding students, athletes and people to develop themselves in every dimension of their lives, and I could not be more excited to enhance that reputation under Coach Curran's leadership," said Holy Cross associate vice president for athletics Kit Hughes in the news release. "His respect for the past, vision for the future and enthusiasm for the present will serve our student-athletes, College and community incredibly well moving forward."

Curran is replacing former Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney, who left the Crusaders last week to become the head coach at James Madison.