Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
vs
Ohio
Oct 25 (Sat)
12 p.m.
Dyrell Roberts
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Entering his first year at EMU is Dyrell Roberts, a rising star in the coaching ranks. Roberts will serve as EMU’s wide receivers coach.
Roberts has seven years of progressive coaching experience at the “Power Five”, Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, and Junior College levels following a stint as an explosive kick returner/wide receiver at Virginia Tech. Additionally, he was a 2021 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy selection.
Roberts began the climb through the coaching ranks after transitioning into the coaching profession from a career in law enforcement. The 32-year-old initially worked two years as a sheriff’s deputy at the Isle of Wight County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office.
“It is an absolute blessing for my family and I to join the Eastern Michigan family,” Roberts added. “We cannot wait to immerse ourselves in the Ypsilanti community, an area I am very familiar with from my time recruiting the state of Michigan. Becoming an Eagle is a dream come true, and I am incredibly thankful to Coach Creighton for this opportunity. You can expect our Eagles receivers to be fundamentally detailed, highly-energetic, and athletically dominant. I am eager to get to work; this is going to be a very fun journey!”
Roberts spent the last month back at his alma mater, working as an offensive analyst for the Hokies. Before returning to Blacksburg, Va., he spent three seasons at Western Illinois University. Roberts was hired as the program’s wide receivers coach in March 2019, before being promoted to the Pass Game Coordinator in Dec. 2020. He added the title of Special Teams Coordinator in Dec. 2021.
The Leathernecks’ 2021 fall season’s offense finished first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and 10th nationally in passing offense (301.0 ypg) and completion percentage (65.4%), with FCS receptions leader Dennis Houston and Tony Tate rated as the top WR duo in the nation in receptions
Western Illinois’ 2021 spring season’s offense finished first in the MVFC and 11th nationally in passing offense (293.5 ypg) and second in the league and 13th nationally in completion percentage (64.6%). Meanwhile, the special teams ranked fifth in the MVFC and 27th nationally in kick returns at 21.7 yards per try.
Houston was selected as a HERO Sports 2021 Third Team All-American Wide Receiver and earned First Team All-MVFC accolades. He also collected MVFC Second Team All-Academic honors in back-to-back seasons after ranking first in the nation in receptions per game (8.2), 11th at the FCS level in receiving yards per game (92.3), and 14th nationally in receiving yards (1,015) in the 2021 fall season.
Tate grabbed First Team All-MVFC honors as a return specialist while adding second team accolades as wide receiver. During the 2021 spring season, he led the conference in all-purpose yards per game (129.0), was second in kick return (24.5), and ninth in total touchdowns (5).
Furthermore, Dallas Daniels was selected Honorable Mention All-MVFC and received MVFC All-Newcomer honors in the 2021 spring season. He ranked fifth in the conference and 33rd in the nation in receptions per game (5.7), and 68th in receiving yards per game (61.3).
A native of Smithfield, Va., Roberts completed two seasons on the football staff at Norfolk State University (2017-18). Wearing multiple hats, he was the program’s wide receivers coach, special teams coordinator, and co-recruiting coordinator.
The Spartans’ 2018 team’s punt return unit ranked first nationally in the FCS with an average of 21.86 yards per return. Roberts helped develop Isaiah Winstead, who ranked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in receptions per game (4.9) and fifth in receiving yards (633) before transferring to Toledo.
In his first year on staff, Roberts helped mentor Marcus Taylor, who made the All-MEAC team as a kick returner (second team) and receiver (third team) in 2017. Taylor tied for first in the conference in receptions (5.5) and all-purpose yards (125.6), and was sixth in receiving yards (629). Taylor became the first Spartan in the school’s Division I era to make the all-conference team at more than one position in the same year.
Roberts came to NSU after serving as receivers coach at Division II Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., in 2016. During his stint with the Pumas, Roberts helped sophomore Tremel Glasper earn all-conference honors after Glasper caught 64 passes for 936 yards and six touchdowns. That included separate games of 17 receptions (a SJC record) and 218 receiving yards during the 2016 season.
He joined the SJC coaching staff after spending the 2015 season at Division III Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. There, Roberts coordinated the team’s passing game, special teams units, and strength and conditioning program in addition to serving as quarterbacks coach. As special teams coordinator, one of Roberts’ pupils, Lajay Kelly, led all of Division III with seven blocked kicks. In addition, quarterback Westley Hundley earned honorable mention All-Heartland Athletic Conference (HCAC) honors while leading the Quakers in both passing and rushing yards under Roberts’ tutelage.
Prior to his stint at Earlham College, Roberts spent five months as assistant football coach at ASA College, a junior college located in Brooklyn, N.Y. While at ASA, Roberts coached both the varsity and junior varsity wide receivers while also acting as the co-special teams coordinator and assisting with the team’s strength and conditioning program.
Roberts got his start in coaching at his high school alma mater, Smithfield High School, where he served as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator for the varsity football team.
Roberts earned his bachelor’s degree in human development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 2012. Roberts spent five years as a member of the Hokies’ football program under legendary head coach Frank Beamer. As a Hokie, Roberts was a member of three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship teams (2008, 2010, 2011). The Hokies went to bowls all five of Roberts’ years in Blacksburg, winning the 2008 Orange Bowl, 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl, and 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl.
In 2010, Roberts ranked fourth nationally in kick return average at 31.9 yards per return. That included a 98-yard touchdown return against No.5 Alabama, Sept. 5, 2009. He graduated as Virginia Tech’s all-time leader in both career kick return yardage (1,577) and kick return average (25.9). Roberts also caught 96 passes for 1,363 yards and six touchdowns as a Hokie.
He and his wife, LaTrese, have two sons – Dyrell, Jr. (7) and Major (seven months) – and a dog, Roc.
Roberts has seven years of progressive coaching experience at the “Power Five”, Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, and Junior College levels following a stint as an explosive kick returner/wide receiver at Virginia Tech. Additionally, he was a 2021 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy selection.
Roberts began the climb through the coaching ranks after transitioning into the coaching profession from a career in law enforcement. The 32-year-old initially worked two years as a sheriff’s deputy at the Isle of Wight County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office.
“It is an absolute blessing for my family and I to join the Eastern Michigan family,” Roberts added. “We cannot wait to immerse ourselves in the Ypsilanti community, an area I am very familiar with from my time recruiting the state of Michigan. Becoming an Eagle is a dream come true, and I am incredibly thankful to Coach Creighton for this opportunity. You can expect our Eagles receivers to be fundamentally detailed, highly-energetic, and athletically dominant. I am eager to get to work; this is going to be a very fun journey!”
Roberts spent the last month back at his alma mater, working as an offensive analyst for the Hokies. Before returning to Blacksburg, Va., he spent three seasons at Western Illinois University. Roberts was hired as the program’s wide receivers coach in March 2019, before being promoted to the Pass Game Coordinator in Dec. 2020. He added the title of Special Teams Coordinator in Dec. 2021.
The Leathernecks’ 2021 fall season’s offense finished first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and 10th nationally in passing offense (301.0 ypg) and completion percentage (65.4%), with FCS receptions leader Dennis Houston and Tony Tate rated as the top WR duo in the nation in receptions
Western Illinois’ 2021 spring season’s offense finished first in the MVFC and 11th nationally in passing offense (293.5 ypg) and second in the league and 13th nationally in completion percentage (64.6%). Meanwhile, the special teams ranked fifth in the MVFC and 27th nationally in kick returns at 21.7 yards per try.
Houston was selected as a HERO Sports 2021 Third Team All-American Wide Receiver and earned First Team All-MVFC accolades. He also collected MVFC Second Team All-Academic honors in back-to-back seasons after ranking first in the nation in receptions per game (8.2), 11th at the FCS level in receiving yards per game (92.3), and 14th nationally in receiving yards (1,015) in the 2021 fall season.
Tate grabbed First Team All-MVFC honors as a return specialist while adding second team accolades as wide receiver. During the 2021 spring season, he led the conference in all-purpose yards per game (129.0), was second in kick return (24.5), and ninth in total touchdowns (5).
Furthermore, Dallas Daniels was selected Honorable Mention All-MVFC and received MVFC All-Newcomer honors in the 2021 spring season. He ranked fifth in the conference and 33rd in the nation in receptions per game (5.7), and 68th in receiving yards per game (61.3).
A native of Smithfield, Va., Roberts completed two seasons on the football staff at Norfolk State University (2017-18). Wearing multiple hats, he was the program’s wide receivers coach, special teams coordinator, and co-recruiting coordinator.
The Spartans’ 2018 team’s punt return unit ranked first nationally in the FCS with an average of 21.86 yards per return. Roberts helped develop Isaiah Winstead, who ranked second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in receptions per game (4.9) and fifth in receiving yards (633) before transferring to Toledo.
In his first year on staff, Roberts helped mentor Marcus Taylor, who made the All-MEAC team as a kick returner (second team) and receiver (third team) in 2017. Taylor tied for first in the conference in receptions (5.5) and all-purpose yards (125.6), and was sixth in receiving yards (629). Taylor became the first Spartan in the school’s Division I era to make the all-conference team at more than one position in the same year.
Roberts came to NSU after serving as receivers coach at Division II Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., in 2016. During his stint with the Pumas, Roberts helped sophomore Tremel Glasper earn all-conference honors after Glasper caught 64 passes for 936 yards and six touchdowns. That included separate games of 17 receptions (a SJC record) and 218 receiving yards during the 2016 season.
He joined the SJC coaching staff after spending the 2015 season at Division III Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. There, Roberts coordinated the team’s passing game, special teams units, and strength and conditioning program in addition to serving as quarterbacks coach. As special teams coordinator, one of Roberts’ pupils, Lajay Kelly, led all of Division III with seven blocked kicks. In addition, quarterback Westley Hundley earned honorable mention All-Heartland Athletic Conference (HCAC) honors while leading the Quakers in both passing and rushing yards under Roberts’ tutelage.
Prior to his stint at Earlham College, Roberts spent five months as assistant football coach at ASA College, a junior college located in Brooklyn, N.Y. While at ASA, Roberts coached both the varsity and junior varsity wide receivers while also acting as the co-special teams coordinator and assisting with the team’s strength and conditioning program.
Roberts got his start in coaching at his high school alma mater, Smithfield High School, where he served as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator for the varsity football team.
Roberts earned his bachelor’s degree in human development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in 2012. Roberts spent five years as a member of the Hokies’ football program under legendary head coach Frank Beamer. As a Hokie, Roberts was a member of three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship teams (2008, 2010, 2011). The Hokies went to bowls all five of Roberts’ years in Blacksburg, winning the 2008 Orange Bowl, 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl, and 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl.
In 2010, Roberts ranked fourth nationally in kick return average at 31.9 yards per return. That included a 98-yard touchdown return against No.5 Alabama, Sept. 5, 2009. He graduated as Virginia Tech’s all-time leader in both career kick return yardage (1,577) and kick return average (25.9). Roberts also caught 96 passes for 1,363 yards and six touchdowns as a Hokie.
He and his wife, LaTrese, have two sons – Dyrell, Jr. (7) and Major (seven months) – and a dog, Roc.
| The Dyrell Roberts File | ||
| Name: | Dyrell D. Roberts, Sr. | |
| High School: | Smithfield - Smithfield, Va. | |
| College: | Virginia Tech - Bachelor’s degree in Human Development - 2012 | |
| Family: | Wife - LaTrese; Sons – Dyrell, Jr. and Major | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2022-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2022 | Virginia Tech | Offensive Analyst |
| 2021 | Western Illinois University | Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2020 | Western Illinois University | Assistant Coach/Pass Game Coordinator |
| 2019 | Western Illinois University | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2017-19 | Norfolk State University | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2016-17 | St. Joseph’s College | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2015-16 | Earlham College | Assistant Coach/Pass Game Coordinator/Special Teams Coord. |
| 2015 | ASA College Brooklyn | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers/Co-Special Teams Coord. |
| 2013-15 | Smithfield High School | Co-Offensive Coordinator |
| 2013-15 | Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office | Deputy Sheriff |
| 2008-12 | Virginia Tech | Student-athlete |
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