Beyond The U: Coach DeMarcus Van Dyke

Prior to The U

Hailing from Opa Locka, Fl and attending Monsignor Pace High School (Miami Gardens), DeMarcus has always been a part of South Florida football and its rich history for developing football stars.

As a recruit, Van Dyke was a 4 star recruit (#15 athlete) and held offers from University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Florida, Florida State University, and Ohio State University. He was a coveted recruit by many of the top programs in the nation, but decided to stay home when he committed to Miami on National Signing Day.

During his time in Miami (2007-2010)

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

During an era of being mediocre and never living up to expectations, the 2007 Miami Hurricanes featured some defensive ‘Canes who truly loved the program. The list includes Kenny Phillips, Colin McCarthy, Calais Campbell, Tavares Gooden, and rising freshman DeMarcus Van Dyke.

As a Cane, DeMarcus saw playing time right away as he racked up 13 total tackles while appearing in 12 games. His consistency on playing throughout the season carried through his entire career as he appeared in 50 career games. Van Dyke would finish with 79 tackles and 3 interceptions during his tenure at The U.

When he was on the boundary covering wideouts, he used his speed and quick hips to keep up with them. Although he was never a big name around the nation, he was popular among Miami’s fanbase and heavily appreciated by them. When he had a chance to match up against players close to his size, he was never afraid to lower his shoulder to make a play.

What I really liked about DeMarcus Van Dyke was his passion and swagger, he showed off after getting a hard hit or making a play on the ball. I love seeing ’Canes show their swagger and let the opponent know that it’s going to be a dog fight between the lines.

“Beyond The U”

When Van Dyke was invited to the combine, he showcased his speed in the 40-yard dash one last time as he clocked a ridiculous 4.28, which is tied as the 6th fastest time ever at the combine. He had a fairly good combine (listed below) which led to him being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.

During his career in the NFL he bounced around the league trying to make a name for himself. He appeared in games for the Raiders (2011) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2012-2013). He finished his career with 17 total tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Life After Football

After his playing career, Van Dyke immediately went into volunteering for local optimist teams in the Miami area to get his foot in the door to be a coach. This then led him to being a part of the coaching staff for the Public vs. Private All-Star game in South Florida.

He was always aware that coaching was something he had dreamed of doing. Then on March 1, 2017 he was hired to coach defensive backs at ASA College (Miami). As a member of the Silver Storm, he recruited local talent while getting a name for himself in the coaching world.

In 2018, Van Dyke was offered to join the Miami Hurricanes coaching staff as a defensive quality control analyst. During his first year, he amazed future head coach Manny Diaz with his hard work and his continuous love for the program. When the Hurricanes underwent turmoil on the coaching staff following the retirement of Mark Richt, most of the coaches were retained on the defensive side, including Van Dyke. This followed with Coach Van Dyke being promoted to the Assistant Director of Recruiting.

Coach Van Dyke has been nothing short of a gem for this program. A man who embraces The U and does what he can to make recruits feel the love from the staff. As well as showing the recruits how they can be used in Miami’s system and why the Gables is the place to be. DVD is someone that will continue to improve as a coach, recruiter and mentor. Regardless, expect him to have a huge role for the ’Canes moving forward.

Go Canes!