Darrell Dickey, who was the offensive coordinator for the Memphis Tigers from 1986-89, has returned to the program in the same capacity. Dickey will also guide Tiger running backs. Dickey, who has over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, was the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Texas State during the 2011 season. Texas State's rushing attack averaged 195 yards a game, and scored 20 of the team's 35 offensive touchdowns in 2011. The Bobcats finished the season at 6-6 and averaged 345 yards of total offense. Against Southeastern Louisiana, TSU logged 336 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries. In seven of the 12 games in 2011, the Bobcats tallied at least 200 yards rushing and the squad also registered at least 40 carries in nine games. Dickey made his move to Texas State after spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at New Mexico. He also served as the offensive coordinator at Utah State in 2007 and 2008. During his tenure at New Mexico, Dickey helped install a new offense that featured freshman All American tight end Lucas Reed and some of the most talented newcomers in the Mountain West Conference. They included wide receiver Ty Kirk, along with running backs Demond Dennis and Kasey Carrier. While at Utah State, Dickey's offense produced 1,653 rushing yards in 2008, and that was the school's highest total in nine seasons. In addition, quarterback Diondre Borel was one of seven quarterbacks nationally to lead their respective teams in rushing and passing. Dickey went to Utah State after serving nine years as the head coach at North Texas from 1998-2006. He guided the Mean Green to four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships with a combined record of 25-1 between 2001-04 and was 29-11 overall in SBC games. North Texas participated in four consecutive New Orleans Bowls from 2001-04. He guided the Mean Green to nine wins for the first time in 23 years during the 2003 season after winning eight contests a year earlier. In the 2003 New Orleans Bowl, Dickey's squad suffered a loss to the Memphis Tigers, 27-17, at the Louisiana Superdome. The Mean Green also had a 7-5 mark in 2004. Under his direction, North Texas landed 70 players on All-Sun Belt Conference teams, including 39 first-team selections. Dickey was named the head coach of the Sun Belt Conference's 30th Anniversary Team in 2004. Dickey also guided the Mean Green to its first bowl win in 57 years when North Texas defeated Cincinnati in the 2002 New Orleans Bowl. Running back Kevin Galbreath was named the MVP of the bowl game that season. North Texas produced back-to-back NCAA rushing leaders as Patrick Cobbs led the nation in 2003 with 152.7 yards per game. Jamario Thomas repeated the feat in 2004 with 180.1 yards per contest. In his final season at UNT, Dickey suffered a heart attack on Oct. 13, 2006, but missed just one game. In a nine-month span, Dickey had his gall bladder removed, was diagnosed with diabetes and suffered the heart attack. The offensive-minded Dickey went to North Texas after serving as the offensive coordinator at SMU in 1997, when the Mustangs posted their first winning season since being reinstated from the "Death Penalty" in 1989. He went to SMU after serving as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UTEP from 1994-96. He also was a tight ends coach at LSU from 1991-93, where the Tigers upset No. 1-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1993. He went to LSU after serving as the quarterbacks and running backs coach at Mississippi State in 1990. That season, the Bulldogs beat LSU for the first time in six seasons when running back Tay Galloway ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Dickey was the offensive coordinator at Memphis from 1987-89, after serving one season as running backs coach for the Tigers in 1986. While he was at Memphis, the Tigers upset SEC powers Alabama in 1987 and Florida in 1988. He also served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M in 1985, when the Aggies won the Southwest Conference and played in the Cotton Bowl. Dickey is the son of Jim Dickey, who was head football coach at Kansas State from 1978-85. He played quarterback for his father and led the Wildcats to the 1982 Independence Bowl, the school's first-ever bowl game. He also played in the 1982 Blue-Gray All-Star game. Dickey graduated from Kansas State in 1983 with a degree in business administration. He and his wife, Tory, have a daughter, Meredith.
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