Football
Therrell, Dennis
Dennis Therrell
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- dtherrell2@murraystate.edu
- Phone:
- (270) 809-6857
Dennis Therrell enters his first season as the Racers defensive coordinator, working with the safeties.
No stranger to Stewart Stadium, Therrell returns for his second stint leading the Racer defense.
Just like in 2004, Therrell will be in charge of restoring order to a defense that ranked near the bottom in yards and points allowed.
He joins Chris Hatcher’s staff after spending the previous three seasons as assistant coach with the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League.
Therrell served as the defensive backs coach in 2012, after spending the previous two seasons working with the linebackers. He helped guide the Locos to the 2010 UFL championship, as well as a runner-up finish in 2011.
The Locos secondary was responsible for four of the team’s seven interceptions in just four games. Â
Therrell joined the Locos staff after spending the previous three seasons on the staff at UNLV. He joined the running rebels in 2007 as the linebackers coach, before taking over as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2008 and 2009.
In his first year with the Rebels, Therrell tutored linebacker Beau Bell on his way to being named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Bell would go on to be selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Therrell continued to work with the linebackers in 2008, guiding Jason Beauchamp to second-team all-conference accolades.
Prior to his time at UNLV, Therrell spent the 2006 season as a volunteer assistant at Auburn.
Therrell first arrived at MSU in 2004 when he was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
In his first season, Therrell led the Racers to the top scoring defense in the OVC, allowing just 20 points per game. It was an improvement from a season ago when MSU ranked 6th in scoring defense, allowing 118 more points. Even more impressive, the Racers allowed just 32 points in the fourth quarter all season.
The Pikeville, Tenn., native began his coaching career at the high school level, serving for one year at Campbell County High School and three seasons at Rhea County High School in Tennessee. His Rhea County team reached the state championship in 1981.
Therrell jumped into the collegiate ranks in 1983, serving as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. While at UT, he helped the Vols to the 1983 Citrus Bowl and 1984 Sun Bowl.
Therrell moved on to Middle Tennessee following the 1984 campaign, spending two seasons on the Blur Raiders’ coaching staff. During that time, MTSU ranked among the top teams in Division I-AA and closed out the 1985 season ranked No. 1 nationally.
He moved on to Lock Haven University where he served as the defensive coordinator from 1987-89, before being elevated to head coach in 1990. Â
In just his second season, Therrell guided the Bald Eagles to their highest victory total in more than two decades. His six-year tenure was marked by an overall program upgrade that included a dramatic improvement in the football program’s facilities.
Therrell left Lock Haven following the 1995 season to join head coach Todd Berry’s staff at Illinois State. Therrell spent four seasons with the Redbirds as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Â
During his final season at ISU, the Redbirds topped the Gateway Conference in rushing defense (136.5), opponent yards per pass attempt (6.4) and quarterback sacks (32), while ranking 21st nationally in turnover margin.
Following the 1999 campaign, Therrell followed Berry to Army, where he served as the defensive coordinator for four seasons.
A letterwinner as a linebacker during his playing days at Tennessee Tech, Therrell helped the Golden Eagles capture the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1975. Â
He later enjoyed a brief stay in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He earned his bachelors degree in education from TTU in 1978, and his master’s from Tennessee in 1985.
Therrell and his wife, Dawn, have two sons, John and Cody, and a daughter, Abby. Both John and Cody are members of the Racer football team.
No stranger to Stewart Stadium, Therrell returns for his second stint leading the Racer defense.
Just like in 2004, Therrell will be in charge of restoring order to a defense that ranked near the bottom in yards and points allowed.
He joins Chris Hatcher’s staff after spending the previous three seasons as assistant coach with the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League.
Therrell served as the defensive backs coach in 2012, after spending the previous two seasons working with the linebackers. He helped guide the Locos to the 2010 UFL championship, as well as a runner-up finish in 2011.
The Locos secondary was responsible for four of the team’s seven interceptions in just four games. Â
Therrell joined the Locos staff after spending the previous three seasons on the staff at UNLV. He joined the running rebels in 2007 as the linebackers coach, before taking over as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2008 and 2009.
In his first year with the Rebels, Therrell tutored linebacker Beau Bell on his way to being named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Bell would go on to be selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 4th round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Therrell continued to work with the linebackers in 2008, guiding Jason Beauchamp to second-team all-conference accolades.
Prior to his time at UNLV, Therrell spent the 2006 season as a volunteer assistant at Auburn.
Therrell first arrived at MSU in 2004 when he was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
In his first season, Therrell led the Racers to the top scoring defense in the OVC, allowing just 20 points per game. It was an improvement from a season ago when MSU ranked 6th in scoring defense, allowing 118 more points. Even more impressive, the Racers allowed just 32 points in the fourth quarter all season.
The Pikeville, Tenn., native began his coaching career at the high school level, serving for one year at Campbell County High School and three seasons at Rhea County High School in Tennessee. His Rhea County team reached the state championship in 1981.
Therrell jumped into the collegiate ranks in 1983, serving as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. While at UT, he helped the Vols to the 1983 Citrus Bowl and 1984 Sun Bowl.
Therrell moved on to Middle Tennessee following the 1984 campaign, spending two seasons on the Blur Raiders’ coaching staff. During that time, MTSU ranked among the top teams in Division I-AA and closed out the 1985 season ranked No. 1 nationally.
He moved on to Lock Haven University where he served as the defensive coordinator from 1987-89, before being elevated to head coach in 1990. Â
In just his second season, Therrell guided the Bald Eagles to their highest victory total in more than two decades. His six-year tenure was marked by an overall program upgrade that included a dramatic improvement in the football program’s facilities.
Therrell left Lock Haven following the 1995 season to join head coach Todd Berry’s staff at Illinois State. Therrell spent four seasons with the Redbirds as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Â
During his final season at ISU, the Redbirds topped the Gateway Conference in rushing defense (136.5), opponent yards per pass attempt (6.4) and quarterback sacks (32), while ranking 21st nationally in turnover margin.
Following the 1999 campaign, Therrell followed Berry to Army, where he served as the defensive coordinator for four seasons.
A letterwinner as a linebacker during his playing days at Tennessee Tech, Therrell helped the Golden Eagles capture the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1975. Â
He later enjoyed a brief stay in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He earned his bachelors degree in education from TTU in 1978, and his master’s from Tennessee in 1985.
Therrell and his wife, Dawn, have two sons, John and Cody, and a daughter, Abby. Both John and Cody are members of the Racer football team.
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