Lyle Hemphill - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Lyle Hemphill

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Nickels
Phone:
540-568-6517

Lyle Hemphill completed his first season with the James Madison football program in 2024, as he served as the defensive coordinator and nickels coach.

Hemphill led one of the nation’s top defensive units, ranking top 30 nationally in 14 different categories, highlighted by leading the country in turnover margin (1.54). JMU was 21st in scoring defense (20.5) and 23rd in total defense (321.8), leading the Sun Belt in both categories.

JMU additionally ranked third in both takeaways (29) and pick-sixes (4), fifth in defensive touchdowns (4), sixth in both sacks (3.15) and fumble recoveries (12), seventh in both interceptions (17) and pass efficiency defense (111.48), 12th on third-down defense (32.3%), 18th in tackles for loss (7.1), 23rd in first-down defense (17.46) and 26th against the run (115.4). The Dukes paced the SBC in 12 of those categories.

On the defensive side of the ball, two players were named FBS All-Americans, as cornerback Terrence Spence was a FWAA Second Team All-American and College Football Network Third Team All-American and defensive end Eric O’Neill was a Second Team honoree from CFN. Defensive end Khairi Manns joined the two as a Group of Five All-American from HERO Sports.

Spence and O’Neill, who were both First Team All-Sun Belt selections were joined by Second Team picks Manns, linebacker Jacob Dobbs and safety Jacob Thomas and honorable mention selection and defensive lineman Immanuel Bush.

Leading JMU’s nickels, he coached a young group with a first-year starter in DJ Barksdale, who was voted the Boca Raton Bowl Defensive MVP. JMU’s seventh-leading tackler (42), he had 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, a pair of interceptions with a pick-six and three breakups.

Hemphill came to Harrisonburg after two seasons on the staff at Duke (2022-23), where he coached the safeties and was co-defensive coordinator during the 2023 season.

During his time in Durham, Duke went a combined 17-9 with a pair of bowl-game victories. The Blue Devils finished 8-5 in 2023, capped off by a win over Troy in the Birmingham Bowl. In 2022, Duke turned in a 9-4 ledger with a Military Bowl triumph against UCF. The Devils were solid at home, posting an 11-2 record at Wallace Wade Stadium during Hemphill’s stay with the program.

During the 2023 season, which included a season-opening victory against then-#9 Clemson, the Blue Devil defense ranked top 20 nationally in a pair of categories, including 10th in red-zone defense (74.4%) and 16th in scoring defense (19.0). Duke’s rankings were second and first in the ACC, respectively, in those two categories. Duke also ranked fifth in the ACC in passing defense (210.8), rushing defense (141.9) and pass efficiency defense (121.45).

A total of five defenders were named All-ACC, including First Team defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who was a 2024 third-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills after earning Second Team All-America honors from the AFCA. Other All-ACC honorees included linebacker Tre Freeman (Second Team), defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles (Third Team), cornerback Al Blades Jr. (Honorable Mention) and safety Brandon Johnson (Honorable Mention).

In his first season at Duke, Hemphill mentored Johnson and safety Darius Joiner to All-ACC accolades. Joiner led Duke in tackles (97) while ranking tied for first in interceptions (2) and second in tackles for loss (8.0). His unit helped Duke defense lead the nation in fumble recoveries (16) while ranking second in turnover margin (+1.23). The Devils also ranked ninth in takeaways, 22nd in sacks (2.77), 25th in rushing defense (121.2) and 31st in scoring defense (22.1). Additionally, Dukes’ defensive backs compiled 59 pass breakups to rank fourth in the ACC.

Hemphill came to Duke after five seasons on Dave Clawson’s staff at Wake Forest (2017-21). While in Winston-Salem, he was a safeties coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator prior to 2019 season.

In five years at Wake Forest, the program reached a bowl game in every season, winning three of them while posting a 38-24 overall record. In three years leading the defense, Hemphill helped WF go 23-13, which included an 11-3 record in his final season in 2021, a year in which the team reached the ACC title game and won the Gator Bowl over Rutgers.

During his stretch as WF’s defensive coordinator, the program was one of just three at the FBS level with 13 or more interceptions per season during that span.

In 2021, Wake ranked tied for fifth nationally with 27 takeaways was sixth in the ACC in pass defense, allowing teams to gain 221.9 passing yards per contest. After an undefeated home record and 7-1 mark in conference play, the Demon Deacons reached the ACC title game. After its Gator Bowl win, Wake ended the 2021 campaign ranked 15th in the final AP poll and 14th in the Coaches poll.

The 2020 season saw Wake Forest achieve its highest turnover margin in the Dave Clawson era, finishing with a +10 turnover margin. The Deacons were one of just seven FBS schools to post a +10 or better margin in the country, tying for fourth in that category. Of Wake Forest’s 13 interceptions that season, four came from Nick Anderson, walk-on safety, who was tied for eighth in the FBS and tied for the lead in the ACC.

The 2019 Wake Forest defense finished 16th nationally in third-down defense, a program best. It also ended the season 15th in fumbles recovered and 17th in passes intercepted among all FBS schools. During that season, Hemphill helped mentor Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr. to one of the best single-seasons for an edge defender in school history, as he led the ACC with 18 TFL and tied for 14th nationally with 11 sacks.

During his time in Winston-Salem, Hemphill coached 14 defensive players to a combined 17 All-ACC honors, including safety Jessie Bates III and Basham Jr. Bates, who was taken in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, was an Honorable Mention All-ACC pick in 2017 and finished his career third in school history with 195 interception-return yards. Basham Jr., who was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, finished his four-year career with 20.5 sacks (fourth most in school history), 173 tackles, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Prior to Wake Forest, Hemphill spent six seasons at Stony Brook (2011-16), where he was safeties coach before adding defensive coordinator duties over his final four years.

FootballScoop.com named Hemphill the 2015 FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year, as he directed one of the FCS’ top defenses. Over his final three seasons, the Seawolves finished top three nationally in total defense, which included leading the country in 2015, at 250.1 yards per game. Seven SBU players earned all-conference accolades, including Davonte Anderson and Victor Ochi, who became the Stony Brook’s Division I career leader in interceptions and sacks, respectively.

Before Stony Brook, Hemphill had a second stint at Delaware for the 2010 season, where he was cornerbacks coach. He also served on the Blue Hens’ staff from 2004-05 as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the secondary. In 2010, he helped the Blue Hens return to the FCS Championship Game, finishing with a 12-3 overall record with six top-25 wins. During his first stint in Newark, Hemphill helped guide the Blue Hens to a Division I-AA quarterfinal appearance.

From 2006-09, Hemphill worked with the defensive backs and special teams unit at Hofstra. He helped the secondary rank fourth in the FCS in pass defense, at 136.9 yards per outing, and second in the CAA in 2007 with 13 interceptions. He coached defensive back Kyle Arrington to an NFL undrafted free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2008 season.

His career began at Delaware Valley College (now University) in 2002, a stop that including him coaching on the same staff as Bob Chesney. He coached defensive backs and special teams for the Aggies.

Hemphill is a 2002 graduate of Ursinus College with a bachelor’s degree in politics and was a four-year letterman at strong safety while also wrestling one season for the Bears. He later earned a master’s degree in education administration from Delaware in 2005.

Hemphill is married to the former Christen Gardner of Philadelphia, and they are the parents of four children, Izabella, Lyla, Georgia and Olivia. His father, Joe, is one of the most successful football coaches in Delaware high school history, coaching at St. Elizabeth from 1972-2013.