New Army defensive coordinator Daryl Dixon plans no major changes
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Daryl Dixon was promoted to defensive coordinator for Army football a week ago, but he actually got a taste of the job each of the last two seasons.
Dixon revealed during his introductory call with the media on Wednesday, Jan. 21 that exiting coordinator Nate Woody, who’s headed to Cincinnati, allowed him to call the plays late during some games.
“I can’t thank Nate Woody enough for the leadership that he bestowed on us when he was here,” Dixon, 45, said. “But, also, he is a master at letting his staff kind of find their way within not only his coaching style but within the defense.
“The last two years I was fortunate enough for him to think highly of me ― or some would say silly of me ― to be able to call the game in the fourth quarter. Now, I won’t mention what games that was, but I got a chance to develop with him that I would have never, I don’t think, got an opportunity with anyone else because of how humble he was and how gracious he was to treat me.”
Dixon is headed into his 11th season on head coach Jeff Monken’s coaching staff (Woody was the DC from 2020-25). He has coached the Army cornerbacks since 2019 after three seasons as outside linebackers coach. Dixon can certainly take credit for developing a handful of all-stars and having a hand in some solid defensive units.
“(Woody) laid a tremendous foundation for this defense and some of the things that he accomplished when he was here,” Dixon said. “I just hope to do half the things that he did.”
With that in mind, Dixon has no plans for major alterations to the Army defensive approach.
“If it’s not broke, why fix it?” Dixon said. “The Army-Nate Woody plan is going to be the base of who we are. That’s our defense. We recruited players in the system to that defense, and it works and it’s been successful, so why change it?”
Coaching football was always the plan
“I wanted to coach football ever since I was in high school,” Dixon said. “Some of the guys that coached me in high school … really had an influence on me, to take me in as a young boy. … My coaches really were the ones that were my foundation, and that’s what I always wanted to do. I wanted to develop young men and make them feel like my coaches did for me and have value. So that’s what I always wanted to do.”
Dixon played cornerback in high school but was shifted to safety three days into his first training camp at the University of Florida. “That’s because I wasn’t fast enough to play corner, but I was smart and I was physical.” He became a starter as a freshman and saw 25 starts in 49 career appearances. As a senior, he became team captain and was a Southeastern Conference all-star in 2003.
Dixon then played two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2004-05) and saw action in NFL Europe. He was an assistant coach at Illinois for three seasons (2006-08) and seven seasons at Ball State (2009-15), where he coached outside linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties with the Cardinals.
Dixon said he started out as a “feisty” coach but has developed his own style over the years.
“Now that I’ve been at Army West Point, you develop not only your coaching style, your coaching philosophy, but you see the kind of players (you have), the ones you need to push but also the ones that need a helping hand,” Dixon said, adding he takes an individual approach on each player.
The discipline of West Point students probably helps but Dixon said it’s never easy to get young men “to do something every single day.” Still, “I would say that the guys that we coach are tremendous, and what we coach ― the fundamentals, techniques and everything that they need to be successful ― you drill that every single day into them. … I am fortunate to coach the kind of young men that we do.”
Daryl said his mother, Cynthia Dixon, was his greatest role model because she persevered through early motherhood, a divorce and was willing to work two jobs to support her family.
“We had everything we needed,” he said. “Christmas came and I had all the things that I wanted. … She provided, and that is what I take with me always. My mom is my inspiration.”
That’s what he takes to heart for his prime responsibilities as a coach.
“There’s a connection built between a player and a man, a coach, that I can’t replicate anywhere else,” he said. “You don’t take for granted things that young men need in their life, things that young men don’t know in their life. They’re away from their families, and I’m an extension of their families; I’m an extension of mom, I’m an extension of dad.
“Sometimes they get tired of me … and I’m going to be on their butt, but that’s just the way I am. I’m not going to let you fail. I’m not going to embarrass you as a coach, and I’m not going to let you embarrass me. So that’s the marriage that we have, and my guys understand that. That’s just the way I am and I’m not going to change.”
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: New Army defensive coordinator Daryl Dixon ready for new role
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