Ball State Shores Up Coaching Staff

Word has broken that Ball State has filled out its coaching staff with the hire of Daryl Dixon to coach the defensive backs. No official word yet from the BSU athletics department, but several independent sources have confirmed this hire. Ball State has that pesky policy of not announcing anything until every ounce of ink on every possible document is signed, sealed, and delivered, so it might be several days until this announcement is officially official, in the official sense of the word.

Dixon's most recent stop was at Illinois, where he was a defensive graduate assistant. His bio from the Illini:

Former All-SEC defensive back and two-year NFL veteran Daryl Dixon joins the Illini coaching staff this season as the defensive graduate assistant. Dixon is not a newcomer to Illinois, as he served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for football in 2006 and 2007.

While working under the direction of strength coach, Lou Hernandez, Dixon implemented both in-season and offseason workout programs. He desiged*** specialized speed workouts for many of the skill positions, while facilitating specific defensive back instruction. He also aided the defensive coaching staffs with opponent game film and scouting reports.

Prior to coming to Illinois, Dixon spent two years on the Indianapolis Colts roster in 2004 and 2005. Dixon was a three-year starter at safety for the University of Florida Gators and the team's captain in 2003 as a senior. During that season, in which the team went to the 2004 Outback Bowl, Dixon was named second-team All-SEC. As a true-freshman in 1999, he earned Freshman All-America honors. Not only did Dixon excel on the field, but off it as well. He was a two-time Academic All-SEC honoree and won numerous leadership awards, such as the UF Alumni Association Leadership Award which selected him from the entire Florida student body.

Dixon graduated from the University of Florida in 2003 with a degree in sociology, while minoring in education

(*** Yes, that's an actual typo in his biography. Kudos on the commitment to excellence, Illinois. - Ed.)

This hire will close the book on additions for the 2009 Coaching Staff, as head man Stan Parrish has compiled an impressive group of coaches with a wide variety of talent, experiences, and history. Dixon brings in a solid background in strength and conditioning, as well as vast knowledge of the defensive secondary, considering he was All-SEC and was a freshman All-American at the safety position.

Welcome, Coach. It isn't 89,000 on a Gainesville afternoon, but at least you no longer have to go water skiing with your boss...