DJ McCarthy - Football Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

DJ McCarthy

Title:
Director of Player Development

McCarthy brings the distinction of a national title as both a player (Washington) and as a coach (LSU)

At Florida Atlantic

Returned for his third stint on the Florida Atlantic staff, becoming wide receivers coach under Zach Kittley in December 2024.

At Bethune-Cookman

Served a second stint at Bethune-Cookman from 2023-24, this time as Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
In 2024, coached a special teams unit that tied for the FCS lead in kickoff return touchdowns with two

At House of Athlete

From 2021-22, served as a youth director and oversaw combine prep for former NFL star Brandon Marshall's House of Athlete, a high-level training center

At FIU

Worked as receivers coach during the shortened 2020 season

At FAU

Returned to Florida Atlantic in 2019 after a season-long stint where he worked as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League
Prior to his position in the CFL, McCarthy served one season as FAU's the Director of Player Development in 2017
Came to FAU as a seasoned veteran of the coaching world, with 16 years of experience, having mentored 11 receivers into NFL careers, including most recently Bethune-Cookman’s K.J. Stroud who played with the New York Jets
In 2019, McCarthy inherited an inexperienced unit, but heralded the emergence of newcomer Deangelo Antoine. The grad transfer ended the season second on the team with 61 catches, 771 yards and five touchdowns
Junior John Mitchell overcame bouts with injuries in previous years to add five touchdowns as well and ranks third on the team in receptions with 35
Senior Tavaris Harrision has added 33 catches (fourth-highest), and is third with 523 yards. In all, the wide receiver corps combined for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns

At Florida A&M

Served as the wide receivers’ coach and special teams coordinator for the Florida A&M Rattlers during the 2016 season
Saw 17 receivers record a reception in 2016 with Brandon Norwood leading all with 468 yards and Montavius Williams adding 422, both of whom earned All-MEAC honors
Was the Rattlers’ special teams coordinator. Punter Koby Blanton was All-MEAC as was punt return specialist Kereem Smith.

At Bethune-Cookman

Served as the assistant head coach, director of player personnel and wide receivers coach for Bethune-Cookman University for four seasons in his first stint
In 2013, it was thanks in part to McCarthy and the Wildcat receivers, B-CU garnered its second consecutive MEAC crown, going 7-1 in league play and defeating its first-ever Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent in FIU
In his first year with the program, McCarthy helped elevate the Bethune-Cookman passing game, as the 2012 Wildcats' offensive unit finished atop the MEAC in several statistical categories, developing into one of the nation’s most prolific and high-powered offenses. The Wildcats were not only the MEAC’s top offensive team, they were the league’s top scoring team as well, averaging 29.4 points per game, ranking them in the top 40 nationally

Prior to his Collegiate Coaching Return

Served as the Co-Founder and National Director of WRA-Receiver Academy which has two locations: Annapolis Junction, MD and Vienna, VA
In addition to his work with the Receiver Academy, McCarthy oversaw the high-powered attack as offensive coordinator at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Fla
Top three receivers combined for 1,200 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns in consecutive years under his tutelage

At LSU

Coached three seasons at LSU as the Tigers’ wide receivers coach and was recognized as one of the top five recruiters in the SEC and nation for the 2009 class
Helped develop Brandon LaFell into one of the top receivers in LSU’s history, while also overseeing the emergence of Terrance Toliver as one of the up-and-coming young receivers in college football
Ended his collegiate playing career with the Tigers finishing among the top five in school history in three career receiving categories – receptions, yards, and touchdowns
In 2008, LaFell earned All-SEC honors after leading the SEC in total receptions (63) and receiving TDs (eight), and ranking second in yards (929)
LaFell, a junior in 2008, became the fifth LSU player this decade (2000-10) to earn First Team All-Conference honors
Senior Demetrius Byrd ranked second on the squad with 37 catches for 513 yards and four TDs
In his first year with the Tigers, McCarthy’s influence on the Tiger receivers was evident early as the squad was forced to play without senior Early Doucet for five games. In Doucet’s absence, the Tigers’ young receivers grew up in a hurry as LaFell and junior college transfer Byrd became LSU’s “go-to” guys
LaFell, in his first season as a starter in 2007, caught 50 passes for a team-best 656 yards and four scores, while Byrd ranked third on the team with 35 receptions for 621 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Byrd caught the game-winning TD with only one second left in LSU’s win over Auburn
Doucet, despite missing five games with an injury, led the Tigers with 57 receptions while adding 525 yards and five touchdowns. Doucet, who finished his career ranked third in LSU history in receiving TDs (20), fourth in receptions (160), and ninth in receiving yards (1,943), went on to become a fourth round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in the 2008 NFL Draft

At UCLA

Helped UCLA to a 7-6 mark and a berth in the Emerald Bowl
Bruins capped their 2006 regular season with a stunning 13-9 win over second-ranked Southern Cal

At UCF

Held the position of wide receivers coach at Central Florida for two years
Tutored two outstanding wide receivers, both of whom earned All-Conference USA acclaim in 2005
Brandon Marshall caught 74 passes for 1,195 yards and 11 touchdowns while Mike Walker had 64 catches for 856 yards and eight scores for the Golden Knights in 2005. Marshall, who was a fourth round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft, had seven games of at least 100 yards and finished the year ranked No. 22 nationally in receiving yards per game (91.9). UCF posted an 8-5 overall mark in 2005 and went on to play in the Aloha Bowl that year.
In his first season with the Golden Knights, McCarthy tutored a group of wideouts that included Tavaris Capers, who finished ranked in the top 10 in UCF history in career touchdown receptions. McCarthy also assisted in the development of Luther Huggins, who led the team with 42 receptions for 585 yards.

At Nevada

Was the receivers coach at Nevada for four seasons (2000-2003) and was instrumental in the development of record-setting receiver Nate Burleson, who led the nation in receptions in 2002 with 138 catches for 1,629 yards and 12 touchdowns
Burleson set numerous Nevada and Western Athletic Conference records, including receptions in a game with 19 and receiving yardage in a game with 326
Two of McCarthy's wide receivers at Nevada were picked in the NFL Draft following the conclusion of their collegiate careers: Burleson was a third round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, while Maurice Mann was a fifth round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Oakland Raiders/Tampa Bay Buccaneers

McCarthy spent two years as a defensive coaches' assistant in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders (1998-99) prior to moving to Nevada
Also served as an intern with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the summer of 1998

At Boca Raton High School

McCarthy began his coaching career at his alma mater, Boca Raton High School, where he spent two years (1994-95)
He then coached at Fort Lauderdale High School before moving into the college ranks at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, Calif., where he coached the secondary and special teams

Collegiate Playing Career

McCarthy graduated from the University of Washington in 1994
Played receiver for the Huskies for three seasons
Member of the 1991 National Championship team and was part of two Rose Bowl teams
Ranked second among wide receivers in touchdown receptions his senior season
Prior to transferring to Washington, he attended Long Beach City College for two years

PERSONAL

Born: July 26, 1971 in Providence, R.I.
Hometown: Boca Raton, Fla.
Education: Washington, ’94
Family: Three sons Guy, Nathan and Dillon

MCCARTHY'S COACHING HISTORY

Year	School	Position	Bowl	Result
2025	Florida Atlantic	Wide Receivers
2024	Bethune-Cookman	Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2023	Bethune-Cookman	Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2022	Brandon Marshall House of Athletes	Youth Director/Combine Prep
2021	Brandon Marshall House of Athletes	Youth Director/Combine Prep
2020	FIU	Wide Receivers
2019	Florida Atlantic	Wide Receivers	Boca Raton Bowl (SMU)	W, 52-28
2018	Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)	Wide Receivers
2017	Florida Atlantic	Director of Player Development	Boca Raton Bowl (Akron)	W, 50-3
2016	Florida A&M	Wide Receivers
2015	Bethune-Cookman	Director of Player Personnel and Assistant Head Coach
2014	Bethune-Cookman	Director of Player Personnel and Assistant Head Coach
2013	Bethune-Cookman	Director of Player Personnel and Assistant Head Coach
2012	Bethune-Cookman	Director of Player Personnel and Assistant Head Coach
2010-11	Wide Receivers Academy	Co-Founder
2010	LSU	Wide Receivers	Cotton Bowl (Texas A&M)	W, 41-24
2009	LSU	Wide Receivers	Capital One Bowl (Penn State)	L, 19-17
2008	LSU	Wide Receivers	Chick-fil-A Bowl (Georgia Tech)	W, 38-3
2007	LSU	Wide Receivers	SEC Championship (Tennessee) BCS National Championship (Ohio State)	W, 21-14 W, 38-24
2006	UCLA	Wide Receivers	Emerald Bowl (FSU)	L, 44-27
2005	UCF	Wide Receivers	CUSA Championship (Tulsa) Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Nevada)	L, 44-27 L, 49-48 ot
2004	UCF	Wide Receivers
2003	Nevada	Wide Receivers
2002	Nevada	Wide Receivers
2001	Nevada	Wide Receivers
2000	Oakland Raiders	Defensive Assistant-Secondary/Special Teams
1999	Oakland Raiders	Defensive Assistant-Secondary/Special Teams
1998	West Hills College	Secondary/Special Teams
1997	Boca Raton High School	Assistant Coach
1996	Fort Lauderdale High School	Wide Receivers/Special Teams
1995	Boca Raton High School	Wide Receivers/Secondary
1994	Boca Raton High School	Wide Receivers/Secondary