Auburn University has announced the appointment of DeMarcus Van Dyke as its new cornerbacks coach. This decision comes as part of head coach Alex Golesh‘s efforts to strengthen the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season. Van Dyke, recognized as a promising talent in the coaching realm, will bring valuable experience from both his playing and coaching careers.
In making the announcement, Golesh expressed enthusiasm about Van Dyke’s appointment. “We are thrilled to bring Coach DVD to Auburn,” he stated. “He has an elite ability to build genuine relationships with his players and develop them at the highest level. His NFL experience brings a valuable perspective to our program, and he’s worked and played for some of the best defensive minds in football. Coach DVD is going to make an immediate impact on our defense, and his strong connections in key recruiting areas will help us compete for the best talent in the country.”
Van Dyke arrives at Auburn after serving as the cornerbacks coach at the University of South Florida (USF) for the past two seasons. During his tenure at USF, he contributed significantly to the team’s performance, helping them secure a total of 16 wins. Under his guidance, the Bulls’ defense notably improved, with a scoring average that decreased by nearly a touchdown from his first year to the second. In 2025, USF ranked seventh in the nation for turnovers gained, leading the American Athletic Conference (AAC) with 14 interceptions, the highest total for the team since 2017.
One of Van Dyke’s notable achievements at USF was mentoring cornerback DeShawn Rucker, who earned First Team All-AAC honors. Rucker finished the season with 55 tackles, including 39 solo stops, and recorded an interception along with four passes defended.
Van Dyke’s coaching career began in 2017 at ASA College as the cornerbacks coach. He then joined the University of Miami, his alma mater, where he held various roles from 2018 to 2022. Van Dyke worked as a defensive quality control analyst and later transitioned to recruiting before becoming the cornerbacks coach in 2021. He also spent a season as cornerbacks coach at Florida International University (FIU).
As a player, Van Dyke was a dual-sport athlete at the University of Miami, participating in both football and track. From 2007 to 2010, he played in 51 games for the Hurricanes, achieving 80 tackles, ten passes defended, three interceptions, and three tackles for loss. He was selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and played for six seasons in the NFL, which included stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and Atlanta Falcons. Over his NFL career, he appeared in 25 games, accumulating 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
Originally from Miami Gardens, Florida, Van Dyke resides with his wife, Kiawana, and their children, DeMarcus Jr. and Kai. His appointment is part of a broader strategy by Auburn’s coaching staff to enhance the team’s competitive edge in the challenging landscape of college football.
