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DB Coach Dick Hopkins

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Saw this on another site.  Long time defensive coach Dick Hopkins is the new DB coach.  Seems like a very good choice.  He has tons of experience as a defensive coordinator at the I-A and I-AA levels.  Nice addition to a defense that needs all the help it can get.

Dick Hopkins Profile - Duquesne University Official Athletic Site

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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

Here is the official release from FAU:

FAU Football Names Dick Hopkins Defensive Back Coach

Veteran Brings 36 Years Experience to the Young Program


Florida Atlantic University has named Dick Hopkins as football’s defensive back coach. Hopkins brings nearly 19 years experience as a defensive coordinator, and 36 years of overall experience to FAU’s program, which will celebrate its 10th season in 2010.

“I’m delighted to have Dick join our staff,” said Howard Schnellenberger, FAU’s head football coach. “He brings years and years of experience to our program and will fit into the staff quite well.”

Hopkins served as the defensive coordinator at Duquesne University (April to December 2009), at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (March to December 2008), and at the University of Rhode Island (March 2006-February 2008).

As defensive coordinator at The Citadel (February 2004-November 2005), Hopkins coached All-Southern Conference safety Avery Dingle and Shawn Grant; and at James Madison University (March 1999-January 2004), with a team that was  the Atlantic 10 Conference co-champions, he coached two-time All-Atlantic 10 safety Ron Atkins and cornerback Mark Coates.

Hopkins also served as defensive coordinator at Yale University (June 1993-March 1994) where the Bulldogs’ pass defense was ranked second in the league. As the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt University (1986-1988), he helped to guide Vanderbilt to a stunning 24-9 victory over the University of Florida. He also served as the defensive coordinator at Rice University (1983-1985); at the University of Cincinnati (January 1983-December 1983) where he coached Melvin Jenkins and George Jamison and guided the defense to a top-30 ranking; and at Duke University (February 1981-January 1983), where the Blue Devil secondary finished within the top-10 nationally by making use of the talents of future NFL players Charles Bowser and Dennis Tabron. He also served as the secondary /defensive ends coach at Tulane University from 1994-1998.

One common thread through his coaching career has been that in 10 of the 11 collegiate coaching positions he has held, Hopkins has been assigned the South Florida area as a recruiter.

”I’m excited about returning to Florida and especially to the area I called home as a youngster,” said Hopkins. “Thank you to Coach Schnellenberger for giving me the opportunity to be a part of his plan as he continues to build the FAU football program.”

Hopkins began his coaching career at the high school level and later moved into the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant coach at Florida State University (1978-1980), where he was a four-year member of the FSU football team. Prior to his return to Tallahassee he served as the head coach at Twin Lakes High School in West Palm Beach. He guided Twin Lakes (1976-1977) to the Suncoast Conference East Championship in 1977 and was voted Suncoast East Division Coach-of-the-Year. He also was the offensive coordinator at Forest Hill High School where he concentrated on quarterbacks and receivers from 1975, and first stepped into coaching at FSU as a student assistant coach.

Hopkins has a distinct understanding of pass coverage after playing both quarterback and tight end at FSU as a four-year scholarship recipient. He and his wife Debbie have four grown children: Erica, Amy, Geoffrey and Kelley.
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

Nice to see that coach is addressing the defensive problems by adding to the coaching staff. Hopefully this will prove to be a good move.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

Guy has a plethora of experience…almost too much!?  Hope he stays put for a while…
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

No kidding! How many times has the guy stayed put for more than a season??? We better check references :)
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

Agree, the guy has tons of experience, but very short stays everywhere. Any way possible to see if he has been let go or if he has left on his own terms from these schools?
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

DB Coach Dick Hopkins



The guy definitely has a ton of experience…sometimes you need some fresh blood in there.

ESPN Graham Watson Blog on the Hopkins hire
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

OldOwl3044 said

Agree, the guy has tons of experience, but very short stays everywhere. Any way possible to see if he has been let go or if he has left on his own terms from these schools?

I'm sure if you had the time and desire you could google his name and those schools individually (or check the schools website's press page) to get the press releases of each one of his moves. They usually announce when someone leaves or is fired. He has worked at too many schools for me to want to tackle that project!
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

I guess I'll do it.  Since he is our DB coach and not DC I will focus on how well his secondary was each year. (years indicate football seasons)

Duquesne (2009)
179 yd/game, 7.1 yd/pass, 11.7 yd/catch, 8 INT (72 yd), 18 TD

Tenn-Chattanooga (2008)
202 yd/game, 7.7 yd/pass, 12.8 yd/catch, 8 INT (54 yd), 27 TD

Rhode Island (2007)
235 yd/game, 7.9 yd/pass, 13.1 yd/catch, 11 INT (136 yd), 22 TD

Rhode Island (2006)
159 yd/game, 6.7 yd/pass, 12.3 yd/catch, 11 INT (158 yd), 15 TD

Citadel (2005)
206 yd/game, 7.2 yd/pass, 12.5 yd/catch, 11 INT (125 yd), 10 TD

Citadel (2004)
190 yd/game, 8.1 yd/pass, 13.1 yd/catch, 3 INT (23 yd), 15 TD

James Madison (2003)
195 yd/game, 6.6 yd/pass, 10.8 yd/catch, 13 INT (102 yd), 13 TD

James Madison (2002)
173 yd/game, 6.5 yd/pass, 10.6 yd/catch, 9 INT (94 yd), 19 TD

James Madison (2001)
149 yd/game, 6.3 yd/pass, 12.2 yd/catch, 11 INT (250 yd), 11 TD

James Madison (2000)
174 yd/game, 6.1 yd/pass, 10.7 yd/catch, 14 INT (211 yd), 11 TD

James Madison (1999)
214 yd/game, 6.2 yd/pass, 10.8 yd/catch, 14 INT (132 yd), 13 TD


Dick Hopkins Average (1999-2009)
188.7 yd/game, 6.9 yd/pass, 11.9 yd/catch, 10.3 INT (123.4 yd), 15.8 TD

FAU (2009)
233 yd/game, 8.1 yd/pass, 12.0 yd/catch, 5 INT (51 yd), 17 TD

Florida Atlantic University Owls
2007 Sun Belt Football Champions 2007 New Orleans Bowl Champions 2008 Motor City Bowl Champions 2011 Sun Belt Basketball Champions No Bowls without Owls
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Re: DB Coach Dick Hopkins

I really love this hire.  I only hope he stays around.  He is older, maybe he's ready to take it easy and settle in South Florida.  I'm so glad FAU has actually made some changes on defense instead of letting Hoza do business as usual.
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