Report: Lyle Hemphill to Become Wake Forest’s Secondary Coach

Brookland is reporting that the Wake Forest football program has a new coach. Lyle Hemphill, who is currently the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Stony Brook, is expected to join the Wake Forest staff. The site also reports that an official announcement should come later in the week. What are the Deacs getting in Hemphill?

Hemphill obviously doesn’t come from a storied program, but he has done an outstanding job during his time at Stony Brook. In 2015, he was named Football Scoop’s FCS Coordinator of the Year. His defense led the nation in yards allowed per game (250.1 yards) and yards per play (4.1 yards). The defense allowed just 18 touchdowns over the 10-game season. He spent six total seasons with Stony Brook, where he coached defensive backs for his first two seasons, before transitioning to being defensive coordinator and coaching safeties during his final four seasons. His primary recruiting areas were New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Florida.

Former Wake Forest Defensive Coordinator Mike Elko also coached the safeties, so Hemphill will presumably be filling that role. There have been no reports of current cornerbacks/secondary coach Derrick Jackson leaving, and Les Johns of Demon Deacon Digest said he would be surprised.

We will continue to update you as we learn more information. It has been a wild offseason so far.