D. J. Durkin Explained

D. J. Durkin
Current Title:Defensive coordinator/Linebackers coach
Current Team:Auburn
Current Conference:SEC
Birth Date:15 January 1978
Birth Place:Boardman, Ohio, U.S.
Player Years1:1997–2000
Player Team1:Bowling Green
Player Positions:Defensive end, outside linebacker
Coach Years1:2001–2002
Coach Team1:Bowling Green (GA)
Coach Years2:2003–2004
Coach Team2:Notre Dame (GA)
Coach Years3:2005
Coach Team3:Bowling Green (DE)
Coach Years4:2006
Coach Team4:Bowling Green (LB/ST)
Coach Years5:2007–2009
Coach Team5:Stanford (DE/ST)
Coach Years6:2010–2012
Coach Team6:Florida (LB/ST)
Coach Years7:2013–2014
Coach Team7:Florida (DC/LB)
Coach Years8:2014
Coach Team8:Florida (interim HC)
Coach Years9:2015
Coach Team9:Michigan (DC/LB)
Coach Years10:2016–2018
Coach Team10:Maryland
Coach Years11:2019
Coach Team11:Atlanta Falcons (consultant)
Coach Years12:2020–2021
Coach Team12:Ole Miss (co-DC/LB)
Coach Years13:2022–2023
Coach Team13:Texas A&M (DC/LB)
Coach Years14:2024–present
Coach Team14:Auburn (DC/LB)
Overall Record:11–15
Bowl Record:1–1

Daniel John Durkin[1] (born January 15, 1978) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Auburn Tigers. He was formerly the head coach for the University of Maryland. Durkin began serving as the head coach of the University of Maryland football team in 2015.[2] Following the practice-related death of player Jordan McNair, Durkin was placed on leave in August 2018.[3] Matt Canada was named acting head coach until further notice.

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents reinstated Durkin on October 30, 2018,[4] instigating protests and uproar.[5] University of Maryland president Wallace Loh fired Durkin the next day.[6]

Playing career

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Durkin attended Boardman High School where he was an all-conference and all-Northeast Ohio selection.[7] [8]

Durkin played wide receiver and outside linebacker at Bowling Green from 1997 to 2000, and served as a team captain his final two seasons. He started a total of 33 games in his career and recorded 131 tackles, including 28 for loss. Durkin led the team in sacks in 1998 and finished second in that category in 2000. He earned a bachelor's degree in business marketing in 2001, and a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in 2004.[9]

Coaching career

Durkin began a career in coaching immediately following his playing career. He worked as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green under new head coach Urban Meyer in 2001 and 2002, and at Notre Dame under head coach Tyrone Willingham in 2003 and 2004. He returned to Bowling Green in 2005, where he coached defensive ends, linebackers, and special teams on the staff of Gregg Brandon. In 2007, he moved to Stanford on the first staff of Jim Harbaugh, where he served for three seasons as the Cardinal defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. In 2010, Durkin was reunited with Meyer when he joined the Florida Gators as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. He remained on Florida's staff when Will Muschamp took over as head coach in 2010, and in 2013 was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing Dan Quinn.[9] [10]

Durkin has a reputation as a strong national recruiter and was named the 2012 Rivals.com Recruiter of the Year.[11]

On November 22, 2014, Durkin was named interim head coach for Florida's bowl game after the previous head coach, Will Muschamp, announced he would step down following the regular season.[12] Durkin led Florida to a 28–20 victory in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl against East Carolina.[13]

On January 5, 2015, sources confirmed that Durkin was hired as the defensive coordinator of Michigan. The hire reunited Durkin with new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.[14] Michigan confirmed the hire on January 8, and announced that Durkin would also coach linebackers.[15]

On December 2, 2015 ESPN's Joe Schad announced that Durkin was expected to be named head coach of the Maryland Terrapins football team,[16] which was confirmed later that day. Durkin would lead the team to a bowl game appearance in his first year. Following a scandal involving the death of a player and reports of a toxic team culture, Durkin was fired by Maryland midway through the 2018 season.[17]

On January 2, 2020, Ole Miss announced it had hired Durkin as an assistant to head coach Lane Kiffin, along with Chris Partridge and Joe Jon Finley.[18]

On January 5, 2022, it was announced Durkin would become the new defensive coordinator at Texas A&M under Jimbo Fisher.[19]

On January 31, 2024, Auburn had announced that it had hired DJ Durkin as their next defensive coordinator.

Player death at Maryland and resulting scandal

On August 11, 2018, Durkin was placed on administrative leave after Maryland was placed under investigation amid toxic culture allegations against the team after the death of player Jordan McNair. McNair was hospitalized on May 29, 2018 after showing signs of heatstroke and exhaustion while participating in a team workout, and later died at the age of 19.[20]

He returned 80 days later, after the Board of Regents recommendation to stay.[21] [22] Damon Evans, the athletic director, announced the Board of Regents' decision to the team with Durkin present; Durkin later held a meeting with the team without other coaches, and several players walked out of that meeting. Due to intense backlash, Durkin was fired one day later.

Head coaching record

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DJ Durkin Bio . October 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171106192318/http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=210553297 . November 6, 2017 . dead .
  2. DJ Durkin Named Head Football Coach - Maryland Terrapins Athletics . December 2, 2015 . University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site . Umterps.com . December 5, 2015.
  3. News: Maryland places DJ Durkin on administrative leave amid reports of football program’s toxic culture . Rick . Maese . Roman . Stubbs . August 11, 2018 . The Washington Post . August 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: DJ Durkin returns to Terrapins with board of regents' backing . Heather . Dinich . Adam . Rittenberg . ESPN.com . ESPN . October 31, 2018.
  5. Web site: Rittenberg, Adam . October 31, 2018 . Maryland students to protest DJ Durkin's reinstatement . ESPN.com . ESPN . October 31, 2018.
  6. News: UMd. fires head football coach DJ Durkin . David . Collins . Andre . Hepkins . Gerry . Sanudsky . November 1, 2018 . WBAL TV 11 . November 1, 2018.
  7. Web site: Autullo . Ryan . UT's coach Campbell, Durkin set to face off in Florida . Toledo Blade . December 5, 2015.
  8. Web site: Player Bio: D.J. Durkin - GoStanford.com - Stanford University . GoStanford.com . December 5, 2015.
  9. Web site: Gator Football Coaches & Support Staff . GatorZone.com . December 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154826/http://www.gatorzone.com/football/staff/durkin . December 8, 2015 . dead .
  10. Web site: D.J. Durkin - Michigan Football . Footballrecruiting.rivals.com . December 5, 2015.
  11. Web site: Chris Nee Recruiting Analyst . Rivals.com Football Recruiting - Durkin named Rivals.com Recruiter of Year . Footballrecruiting.rivals.com . December 5, 2015.
  12. Web site: Defensive coordinator to helm Gators . November 22, 2014 . ESPN.com . January 3, 2015.
  13. Web site: Associated Press . Gators ride big plays for Birmingham Bowl win . Floridatoday.com . January 3, 2015 . December 5, 2015.
  14. Web site: University of Michigan Wolverines Football & Basketball . MLive.com . December 5, 2015.
  15. Web site: Durkin Hired as Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach . Mgoblue.com . December 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150109002116/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010815aaa.html . January 9, 2015 . dead .
  16. Web site: Report: D.J. Durkin To Be Next Maryland Head Coach . CBS Detroit. October 31, 2018.
  17. News: Maryland fires coach Durkin after reinstatement. October 31, 2018 . October 31, 2018.
  18. Web site: Kiffin adds ex-Terps coach Durkin to Ole Miss staff. 2020-01-02. ESPN.com. en. 2020-01-02.
  19. Web site: DJ Durkin - Football Coach - Texas A&M Athletics - 12thMan.com. 2022-01-21. 2022-01-21.
  20. News: Timeline: Everything that led to DJ Durkin's firing at Maryland . November 1, 2018 . ESPN.com . en.
  21. News: Evans, Durkin to remain at University of Maryland; Loh to retire in June . Talia . Richman . Luke . Broadwater . Don . Markus . October 30, 2018 . The Baltimore Sun . November 1, 2018.
  22. News: DJ Durkin returns to the Maryland football team, and three players walk out of his first meeting . Roman . Stubbs . Emily . Giambalvo . Sarah . Larimer . The Washington Post . October 30, 2018 . October 31, 2018.