DJ Pirkle - Football Coach - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Sep 13,

Final

L 7-47

Sep 27,

Final

L 6-42

Oct 4,

Final

L 3-21

Oct 11,

2:30 PM

Kent State

Oct 18,

2:30 PM

Buffalo

Oct 25,

3:30 PM

Central Michigan

Nov 4,

7 PM

Akron

DJ Pirkle

Title:
Graduate Assistant (Defense)
Email:
dpirkle@umass.edu
Phone:
545-2026

Season at Massachusetts: First
Alma Mater: Northern Illinois '11

D.J. Pirkle joined the Massachusetts football program in Feb., 2017 as an assistant to the defensive coordinator. In his role, Pirkle work closesly with Ed Pinkham, who he was a graduate assistant for during three seasons at Western Michigan (2013-15).

Prior to his arrival in Amherst, Pirkle served as defensive line coach at Northern Michigan in 2016.

Pirkle was a four-year letterwinner at Northern Illinois who appeared in 46 games and made 31 starts at defensive tackle. He finished his career with 75 total tackles, 22.5 TFLs and 8.0 sacks. Pirkle played in three bowl games at NIU and helped his alma mater to a 40-17 win over Fresno State in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl.

Pirkle took on the role of assistant coach at Lincoln Way East, in his hometown of Frankfort, Ill., in the Summer of 2011. The following season, he assisted in designing and implementing defensive schemes and blitzes while also running the scout offense for a team that finished as Class 7A runner-up in the state of Illinois with a 13-1 record.

Pirkle returned to his alma mater in Aug., 2011 as a facilities and gameday operations intern, assisting with day-to-day operations surrounding football, men's and women's basketball, softball, baseball and gymnastics.

A 2011 graduate of Northern Illinois, Pirkle continued his playing career with the Tulsa Talons (2011) and the Chicago Rush (2012) before transitioning into athletic administration and coaching.