Staff Directory
- Title:
- Defensive Coordiantor
THE HEMPHILL FILE
PERSONAL
- Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware
- Education: Ursinus, 2002; Delaware, 2005
- Wife: Christen
- Children: Izabella, Lyla, Georgia, Olivia
COACHING RESUME
- 2002-03: Delaware Valley (Defensive Backs/Secondary)
- 2004-05: Delaware (Graduate Assistant/Secondary)
- 2006-09: Hofstra (Defensive Backs/Special Teams)
- 2010: Delaware (Cornerbacks)
- 2011-12: Stony Brook (Safeties)
- 2013-16: Stony Brook (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
- 2017-18: Wake Forest (Safeties)
- 2019-21: Wake Forest (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
- 2022: Duke (Safeties)
- 2023: Duke (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
- 2024: James Madison (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
- 2025: Texas A&M (Associate Head Coach for Defense)
- 2026-: Texas A&M (Defensive Coordinator)
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
- 2004: Delaware (FCS Playoffs - First Round)
- 2010: Delaware (FCS Playoffs - Final)
- 2011: Stony Brook (FCS Playoffs - Second Round)
- 2012: Stony Brook (FCS Playoffs - Second Round)
- 2017: Wake Forest (Belk)
- 2018: Wake Forest (Birmingham)
- 2019: Wake Forest (New Era Pinstripe)
- 2020: Wake Forest (Duke's Mayo)
- 2021: Wake Forest (TaxSlayer Gator)
- 2022: Duke (Military)
- 2023: Duke (Birmingham)
- 2024: James Madison (Boca Raton)
- 2025: Texas A&M (CFP)
Lyle Hemphill joined the Aggies gridiron program in January 2025, and serves as the defensive coordinator after being elevated from his position of associate head coach for defense in December 2025.
Hemphill and Elko share deep ties dating back to their time at Hofstra from 2006-08, when Hemphill coached the defensive backs and special teams in Elko's defense. The two later reunited at Duke University, where Hemphill served as safeties coach in 2022 before being elevated by Elko to co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2023.
The Wilmington, Delaware, native joined the Aggies staff in June as the associate head coach for the defense after spending one year (2024) at James Madison University as its defensive coordinator and safeties coach. A coaching veteran with more than 20 years of experience, including nine seasons as a defensive coordinator, Hemphill has helped the Aggies rank in the top-25 in total defense (309.8), third down conversion percentage defense (22.7%), fourth down conversion percentage defense (41.2%), and passing yards allowed (182.8).
In his lone season at James Madison, Hemphill's defense led the nation in turnover margin (+1.54). The Dukes also finished fifth in defensive touchdowns (4), sixth in fumbles recovered (12) and sacks per game (3.15), seventh in interceptions (17) and passing efficiency defense (111.48), 12th in third-down defense (32.3%), 18th in tackles for loss per game (7.1), and 21st in scoring defense (20.5).
During his two seasons at Duke (2022–23), Hemphill helped guide the Blue Devils to a 17–9 record, including an 11–2 mark at home and back-to-back bowl victories. As co-defensive coordinator in 2023, Duke ranked 10th nationally in red-zone defense (74.4%) and 16th in scoring defense (19.0). In 2022, Hemphill coached safeties Darius Joiner and Brandon Johnson to All-ACC honors as Duke led the country in fumbles recovered (16) and ranked second in turnover margin (+1.23), ninth in turnovers gained (26), and 23rd in sacks (2.8).
Before Duke, Hemphill spent five seasons on Dave Clawson's staff at Wake Forest University, coaching safeties before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018. In three seasons leading the defense, he helped guide the Demon Deacons to three straight bowl appearances. Wake Forest was one of just three FBS programs with 13 or more interceptions in each of those three seasons.
Under Hemphill's guidance in 2021, Wake Forest tied for fifth nationally with 27 turnovers gained and ranked sixth in the ACC in pass defense (221.85 yards per game). The Demon Deacons finished 10-3, went 6–0 at home, and advanced to the ACC Championship Game before ending the year ranked No. 14 and No. 15 in the Coaches' and AP Polls, respectively.
Wake Forest posted a +10 turnover margin in 2020, its best under Clawson. The Demon Deacons were one of seven FBS teams with a +10 or better margin, tying for fourth nationally. Four of Wake Forest's 13 interceptions came from walk-on freshman safety Nick Andersen, who tied for eighth nationally and first in the ACC.
In 2019, Wake Forest finished 16th nationally in third-down defense, its best mark in program history, and also ranked 15th in fumbles recovered and 17th in interceptions. That season, Hemphill mentored Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. to one of the top single seasons by a defensive end in school history as he led the ACC with 18.0 tackles for loss and ranked 14th nationally with 11.0 sacks.
During his time in Winston-Salem, Hemphill coached 14 defensive players to 17 All-ACC honors, including safety Jessie Bates III and Basham Jr. Bates, drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018, finished his Wake Forest career third in school history in interception return yards. Basham, drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 2021, closed his career with 20.5 sacks (fourth in school history), 173 tackles, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Before Wake Forest, Hemphill spent six seasons at Stony Brook University (2011-16), coaching safeties before adding defensive coordinator responsibilities for his final four years. Named the 2015 FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com, he led one of the top defenses in the FCS. Over his last three seasons, Stony Brook finished among the top three nationally in total defense, including leading the nation in 2015 by allowing just 250.1 yards per game. Seven Seawolves earned all-conference honors during his tenure, including Davonte Anderson and Victor Ochi, the program's Division I leaders in interceptions and sacks, respectively.
Hemphill also had two stints at the University of Delaware, serving as cornerbacks coach in 2010 and as a graduate assistant, working primarily with the secondary, from 2004-05. He helped the Blue Hens reach the FCS Championship Game in 2010, as Delaware finished the season with a 12-3 record including six top-25 wins, and the DI-AA quarterfinals during his first tenure.
From 2006-09, Hemphill coached defensive backs and special teams at Hofstra University, where the secondary ranked fourth nationally in pass defense and second in the CAA in interceptions in 2007.
Hemphill began his coaching career at Delaware Valley University in 2002, working with defensive backs and special teams.
A 2002 graduate of Ursinus College with a bachelor's degree in politics, Hemphill was a four-year letterman at safety and wrestled one season for the Bears. He went on to earn 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.
