Ben Cullen joined the Trine University football staff prior to the start of the 2017 season and will serve as the Defensive Coordinator in 2020 after a tenure as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator.

In his first season, Cullen was part of a defensive coaching staff that helped Trine lead the nation in turnovers gained (37), third in turnover margin (1.5) and tied for sixth in interceptions (23).  In addition, the Thunder defense led the MIAA in scoring defense (allowing just 12.8 points per game) during the regular season.  Trine recorded 21 sacks, including 6.5 sacks by first-team All-MIAA defensive lineman Me'Leick Miles who became the program's all-time leader in sacks (20.5). 

On special teams, Trine led the MIAA, and ranked 10th in NCAA Division III, in punt return average at 15.6 yards per game.  The Thunder also ranked second in the conference (third in NCAA) in kickoff returns with a 26.2 yards per return average.  The team returned two kicks for TD (one punt and one kick) with wideout Jeffery Barnett earning first-team All-MIAA honors as a return specialist for the second straight year.  Trine converted seven-of-12 field goal attempts (58.3 percent) and 68-of-72 extra points (94.4 percent).  The Thunder's 68 made extra points were a single-season record.

In 2018, the defensive squad ranked third in the conference with an average of 335.3 total yards per game allowed and led the league in fewest passing yards given up at 147.5.  The Thunder tallied 24 sacks and scored three defensive touchdowns (all interception returns).  Seven players were named All-MIAA, including three first-team selections and one player went on to earn All-Region and All-American accolades.  On special teams, Trine ranked in the top-15 in both kickoff return (12th) and punt return (sixth) average.  On kickoffs, Jeffery Barnett "19 ranked second in the nation with a 39.0 yards per return average and had a D-III leading and Trine single-season record three returns for touchdown.  Barnett went on to earn first-team All-MIAA honors on special teams for the third straight season and was also named All-American on special teams by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), D3football.com and the Associated Press.  On punt returns, the Thunder averaged 18.9 yards per return as a team behind Marcus Winters' team-leading individual effort of 23.4 yards per return that included a pair of returns for TD.  Trine's 18.9 yards per return team average led the conference.

In 2019, Trine’s defense rank 34th in NCAA Division III allowing 294.3 yards per game.  The Thunder ranked in the top-20 in fewest passing yards allowed per game at 156.6 to rank 16th overall.  In the MIAA, Trine’s defense took top honors in fewest yards allowed and led the conference in sacks (30).  Offensively, the Thunder averaged 188.6 rushing yards to rank 51st nationally and fifth in the conference.  In addition, Trine ranked high on special teams in kickoff return average at 24.58 yards per return, which finished as the ninth best in Division III.

Cullen came to Trine following a one-year stay at NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky. While there, he was the defensive line coach and equipment coordinator. He was also responsible for recruiting the areas of Western Kentucky and parts of Indiana.

Prior to Kentucky Wesleyan, Cullen served as an assistant at Hanover College from 2012-15. He coached in different roles at the college from defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, linebacker coach, defensive line coach, offensive coordinator, and offensive line coach.

Cullen also coached in short stints at Fort Lewis (Colo.) College and Marian University from 2007-12. From 1999-2007, Cullen held multiple coaching roles at Anderson University. He spent six seasons alone as the Defensive Coordinator from 2001-07.

Cullen’s first coaching job was in 1998 at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis as an Assistant Offensive Line Coach.

Cullen is a 1996 graduate of the University of Indianapolis where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and was also a four-year player and two-year starter on the football team on the offensive and defensive lines.