Daryl Dixon, Army’s new defensive coordinator, is going to be thrown directly into the fire when the 2026 football season kicks off this fall.
Taking the place of Nate Woody, who is leaving for the same role at the University of Cincinnati, Dixon was quickly promoted by head coach Jeff Monken from a position coach (defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks) last week to lead the Black Knights defense as the team enters its third year in the American Conference and the opening of the newly-renovated Michie Stadium in September.
Introduced to the media on Wednesday, Dixon understands he has a lot on his plate. First, he has to replace eight starters, including inside linebackers and co-captains Anton Thomas and Kalib Fortner, outside linebackers Eric Ford and Gavin Shields as well as safety Casey Larkin. Army, which finished the season with a 7-6 record and defeated UConn in the Fenway Bowl, gave up just 22 points a game and its defense led the American with fewest total yards allowed per game (297).
The Army pass defense allowed just 190.4 yards per game, the 27th fewest in the nation. The secondary picked off eight passes during the campaign.
“I mentioned the guys we are losing, all-conference players and really good football players, but I am excited about the guys we have coming back,” said Dixon, who is entering his 11th season at West Point, after joining the Army coaching staff in 2016 as linebacker coach. “This defensive staff, I can’t work with a better group. We have a group that enjoys coaching and enjoys developing. I know that we have to not only attack every single day to get better but the young players we have develop them in the scheme and that will be the focus this spring.”
Dixon added, “To play to the level and standard that we want to at Army, (the development) will have to be accelerated and I am looking forward to getting on the field and the challenge ahead.”
Dixon said he plans to stay with Woody’s structure.
“You got it, if it is not broke, why fix it,” he said. “The Army-Nate Woody plan is going to be the base of who we are, that is our defense. We recruited players in this system to that defense. It works, it has been successful, why change it.”
Dixon mentioned that Woody gave him the reins of the defensive play-calling in the fourth quarter of several games over the last few years and that experience has whetted his appetite of what is ahead.
“I can’t thank Nate Woody enough for the leadership that he bestowed on us when he was here,” Dixon said. “He was a master of letting his staff finding their way. The last two years, I was fortunate enough of him to let me call games in the fourth quarter. I got a chance to develop with him that I would never, I don’t think, get an opportunity with anyone else because of how humbled he was. I can’t thank Nate Woody enough.”
Dixon was a 2003 graduate of Florida, playing 49 games as a defensive back and safety for the Gators. He was named team captain his senior year. Dixon earned second team all-Southeastern Conference honors in his senior year and saw a “cup of coffee” with the Indianapolis Colts. He was an assistant coach at Ball State for seven seasons before West Point.
“(Woody) laid a tremendous foundation here for this defense and some of the things he has accomplished,” Dixon said. “I just hope to do half the things that he did. I am honored, I am eager and I am ready to get to work in this role and that is what I am going to focus on.”
