Dick Hopkins - Football Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Dick Hopkins

Title:
Defensive Backs

Coaching Experience
2010 - Pres. -- Florida Atlantic University (Secondary)
2009 - Duquesne (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
2008 - Tennessee at Chattanooga (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
2006-07 - Rhode Island (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary/Linebackers)
2004-05 - The Citadel (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1999-2003 - James Madison (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1994-98 - Tulane University (Secondary/Ends)
1993 - Yale (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1989-92 - Temple (Secondary)
1985-88 - Vanderbilt (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1984-85 - Rice (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1983 - Cincinnati (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1981-82 - Duke (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary)
1978-80 - Florida State (Graduate Assistant)
1976-77 - Twin Lakes High School (Head Coach)
1975 - Forest Hill High School (Offensive Coordinator)
1973 - Florida State (Student Assistant)

Bowl Games
1998 - Liberty Bowl (Tulane)
1981 - Orange Bowl (Florida State)
1980 - Orange Bowl (Florida State)

Recruiting Area
Sarasota, Tampa and St. Petersburg
Out-of-Florida Area: Pennsylvania, New York and New England region

Personal:
Date of Birth: 10/9/1951
Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL
Education: 1974, B.S., physical education, Florida State University 1975, M.S., mass communications, Florida State University
Marital Status: Married, Debbie
Children: Erica, Amy, Geoffrey and Kelley
Grandchildren: Gunnar (12)

At FAU
Hopkins joined the staff shortly after the 2010 signing day and quickly became engrossed in learning the players and the team[apos]s defense. He used the spring drills with the secondary to focus on fundamentals and was afforded the luxury of experience with two corners that have started three seasons, a free safety with two years of starting experience and a strong safety that broke into the 2009 line up, led the team in tackles and earned the team[apos]s [quote]Bone Award.[quote] In his first season at FAU, Hopkins saw Tavious Polo and Marcus Bartels garner second team all-conference honors while Tarvoris Hill was a member of third team.

At Duquesne
Served as the defensive coordinator at Duquesne University (April to December 2009)

At Tennessee at Chattanooga
Served as defensive coordinator (March to December 2008)

At Rhode Island
Worked as the defensive coordinator and with the linebackers and secondary (March 2006 February 2008).

At The Citadel
Served as defensive coordinator at The Citadel (February 2004-November 2005), Hopkins coached All-Southern Conference safety Avery Dingle and Shawn Grant.

At James Madison
Worked as the team[apos]s defensive coordinator and focused on the secondary (March 1999-January 2004). James Madison was the 1999 Atlantic 10 Conference co-champion. Hopkins coached two-time All-Atlantic 10 safety Ron Atkins and cornerback Mark Coates. JMU was scheduled to play FAU in 2001, the inaugural season; however the game was canceled due to the attacks on September 11. The following year JMU defeated FAU 16-13.

At Tulane
He also served as the secondary/defensive ends coach at Tulane University from 1994-98.

At Yale University
Hopkins also served as defensive coordinator at Yale University (June 1993-March 1994) where the Bulldogs[apos] pass defense was ranked second in the league.

AT Temple
Was the defensive secondary coach at Temple (February 1989-June 1993) where the team experienced the biggest won/loss turnaround in the NCAA Division I-A for the 1990 season (1 victory in 1989 and 7 in 1990). Hopkins coached All-Big East Conference safety John Armstrong.

At Vanderbilt
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.

At Rice
He also served as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Rice University (1984-1985).

At Cincinnati
Coached future NFL players Melvin Jenkins and George Jamison and guided the defense to a top-30 ranking as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach (January 1983-December 1983).

At Duke
Held the defensive coordinator and secondary position coach at Duke (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.

Recruiting
One common thread throughout his coaching career has been that in 11 of the 12 collegiate coaching positions he has held, Hopkins has been assigned the South Florida area as a recruiter.

High School Coach
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 in 1975, and first stepped into coaching at FSU as a student assistant coach in 1973.

Playing Career
Hopkins has a distinct understanding of pass coverage after playing both quarterback and tight end at FSU as a four-year scholarship recipient.

Players He Coached Who have Played Professionally
DB Bobby Butler, Florida State - Atlanta Falcons
DE Charles Bowser, Duke - Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins
DB Dennis Tabron, Duke - Chicago Bears
LB George Jamison, Cincinnati - Detroit Lions
DB Melvin Jenkins, Cincinnati - Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions
DB Keith Crespina, Temple - Philadelphia Eagles

[quote]Dick