Darrell Perkins Hired as Safeties/Rovers Coach

Syracuse football has completed its coaching staff for the 2023 season.

Author:
Mike McAllister
Publish date:
Feb 3, 2023 3:55 PM EST

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Syracuse Orange

Syracuse football has hired Darrell Perkins as its safeties and rovers coach, the program announced Friday. Perkins was most recently at UMass and should complete the Orange's coaching staff for the 2023 season.

More on Perkins from a press release via Syracuse Athletics:

Perkins will oversee the safeties and rovers in the Orange's 3-3-5 scheme. He most recently spent the 2022 season at UMass, where his unit ranked in the top-10 nationally in passing defense, allowing just 175 yards per game through the air.

"Coach Perkins has a long history of working with defensive backs and we're excited for him to join our program," said head coach . "His experience in the Northeast makes him an excellent fit for our program."

He has spent much of his career in the Northeast and DMV areas, with two stints, totaling seven years, at UConn as the defensive backs coach, three years at Fordham, including a year as the co-Defensive Coordinator, a year at Maryland as the defensive backs coach and one season at Old Dominion, comprising his last 13 years of coaching.

"I'm excited and thankful for this opportunity," Perkins said. "I'm looking forward to getting to work in a program with the history and tradition that Syracuse has."

In addition to having the ninth-best passing defense in the country this season, the Minutemen defense was 12th nationally in third down defense, 25th in first downs allowed and 55th in total defense in his one season there.

Prior to UMass, Perkins spent his three years as the defensive backs coach at UConn, his second stint in the role. He previously coached the Huskies from 2010-13, where the team won a BIG EAST Championship and made the Fiesta Bowl under his watch.

Over his two stints in Storrs, the Huskies defense reached the top-10 nationally in numerous defensive statistics. His 2012 unit helped the Huskies finish the year ninth in the country and lead the BIG EAST in total defense. The 2010 squad tied for fifth nationally in interceptions and was ranked 28th in passing efficiency defense.

He coached a trio of NFL Draft picks at UConn. Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz were both selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, after spending the entirety of their careers with Perkins. He also developed 2015 first round selection Byron Jones and worked with 2019 first round pick Darnell Savage at the start of his career

In between his time in Connecticut, Perkins was the defensive backs coach at Old Dominion (2014), Maryland (2015) and Fordham (2016-18), adding a co-Defensive Coordinator role for his final season with the Rams in 2018.

In 2014, he was on staff for Old Dominion's inaugural season at the FBS level. The Monarchs finished 6-6, but were ineligible for bowl contention due to their transition period requirement. The squad finished 4-4 vs. Conference USA competition and were led by Eriq Lewis and Reggie Owens in the backend, who combined for 73 tackles and two sacks.

He then spent the 2015 season with Maryland, before joining Fordham a year later. In 2016, Perkins guided a Fordham defensive back unit that was tops in the Patriot League, and fifth in the FCS, in defensive passing efficiency (106.61) and finished third in the league in interceptions with 13. The Rams led the Patriot League and finished 12th nationally in turnovers gained during the 2016 season. Caleb Ham and Jihad Pretlow each earned All-Patriot League honors in his first season.

Perkins helped Dylan Mabin earn All-Patriot League honors in each of the last two seasons (2017-18) and the Fordham defense led the Patriot League in tackles for loss with 7.5/game in 2017. Strong safety Antonio Jackson earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors after leading the team, and finishing second in the league, with four interceptions that season.