Duke co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Lyle Hemphill will join Bob Chesney’s new staff at James Madison, according to a Tuesday report from John Brice with Football Scoop. Hemphill will join the Dukes following a lengthy coaching career in the ACC and beyond.

Hemphill’s journey began at Delaware State in 2002 before he joined his future boss Mike Elko at Hofstra from 2006-2009. He then moved on to Stony Brook from 2010-2016 before being hired by Dave Clawson to come in and coach the safeties before being promoted to the DC role following the 2018 season. Hemphill coached at Duke during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, first as just a safeties coach until he was promoted to the Co-DC role prior to the ’23 campaign.

He’s notably improved every unit that has gotten his hands on, producing some of the best statistical seasons that Wake Forest and Duke have seen on defense. On top of that, names like Jessie Bates III, Carlson Basham Jr., Brandon Johnson and Darius Joiner come to mind when thinking about the recent stars that Hemphill has helped mentor.

Chesney is reportedly making some notable hires in coming over from Holy Cross. Former James Madison All-American Sam Daniels will coach the defensive line and a handful of his staff from the Crusaders will join as well. Former Duke linebackers coach Zach Sparber will also be joining Chesney’s staff in the same role.