Assistant director of recruiting DeMarcus VanDyke could be staying with the Miami football program as the cornerback coach.
After not leaving with former co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda for Utah State, Miami assistant director of recruiting DeMarcus VanDyke could be in line to replace Mike Rumph as the cornerbacks coach. Rumph was reportedly let go from the Miami football program earlier this week.
Banda did bring former Miami football staff members, Mike Zuckerman and Alex Devine with him to Logan, Utah. VanDyke was expected to join them as the Aggie CBs coach. When Rumph was let go from the Miami staff that opened up a spot for Van Dyke to potentially succeed him. VanDyke was a Miami defensive back from 2007-10.
When Utah State announced the additions to the new staff of recently hired head coach Blake Anderson the three former Miami staffers were named but Van Dyke still remains in his current position with Miami. VanDyke was previously a defensive quality control analyst for the Miami football program before his current position.
The new CBs coach for Miami will have to build depth for what has become a thin position for the Hurricanes. Miami currently has five CBs on their roster with three-star athlete Malik Curtis signed last month who is projected to play CB with the Hurricanes. The five CBs currently on the Miami roster are all expected to return.
Juniors Al Blades and D.J. Ivey, sophomore Te’Cory Couch and freshmen Isaiah Dunson and Marcus Clarke made up the thin Miami CB unit in 2020. Couch is the only Miami CB ranked in the top 250 nationally. Couch led the Miami CBs with 37 tackles and added 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and was second with six pass breakups.
Blades was replaced as a starter midseason by Couch and will likely miss spring practice after developing myocarditis from COVID-19. Blades had 29 tackles and led Miami with seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Ivey had 36 tackles and six pass breakups in 2020. Clarke and Dunson received playing time late.
Miami can still add a CB through the transfer portal. There is no timeline for when Miami will hire a replacement for Rumph. If Miami does not promote Van Dyke expect the Hurricanes to look outside the program to hire a new CB coach.