THE HEMPHILL FILE

PERSONAL

Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware
Education: B.S. Ursinus 2002, M.Ed. Deleware 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)

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)

Lyle Hemphill joined Mike Elko’s staff as associate head coach for defense in June 2025, marking his second stint under Elko after previously working with him at Duke. Hemphill spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at James Madison.

James Madison led the nation with a +1.54 turnover margin, including 17 interceptions of the 29 total takeaways. The Dukes were sixth nationally with 3.15 sacks per game and seventh in team passing efficiency with a 111.48 rating.

In his first stint under Elko at Duke in 2022 and 2023, he coached safeties each season and was tabbed the co-defensive coordinator in 2023. The Blue Devils were a combined 17-9 with two bowl victories, including a 11-2 home record in Durham. During the 2023 campaign, the defense ranked 10th in red-zone efficiency (74.4%) and 16th in scoring defense (19.0). In 2022, Hemphill’s safeties earned All-ACC honors and led the team in tackles. The defense led the nation with 16 fumble recoveries and ranked second with a +1.23 turnover margin.

Prior to Duke, Hemphill spent five seasons at Wake Forest (2017-21), where he coached safeties and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2019 under head coach Dave Clawson. During his time as coordinator, Wake Forest ranked among the nation’s best in takeaways, recording 13 or more interceptions each season. In 2021, the Demon Deacons forced 27 turnovers, reached the ACC Championship Game and finished No. 14 in the Coaches poll and No. 15 by the AP. His 2020 unit posted a +10 turnover margin, while the 2019 defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in third-down defense, fumbles recovered and interceptions.

Before joining Wake Forest, Hemphill spent six seasons at Stony Brook (2011-16), serving as safeties coach and defensive coordinator for the final four. He was named the 2015 FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com after leading a unit that ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, allowing just 250.1 yards per game. Over his final three seasons, the Seawolves finished among the top three in total defense each year.

Hemphill coached defensive backs and special teams at Hofstra from 2006 to 2009. He began his coaching career in 2002 at Delaware Valley College, where he also worked with defensive backs and special teams.

Hemphill earned his bachelor's degree in politics from Ursinus College in 2002, where he was a four-year letterwinner at strong safety and wrestled for one season. He later received a master's degree in education administration from Delaware in 2005. He and his wife, the former Christen Gardner, have four children, Izabella, Lyla, Georgia and Olivia. His father, Joe Hemphill, was a longtime high school coach at St. Elizabeth in Delaware, leading the program from 1972 to 2013.