Coaching staff update: Danny Verpaele named Army safeties coach

Army football has hired a familiar name to fill its defensive opening.

Danny Verpaele has returned to West Point as the Black Knights’ safeties coach, Army athletics announced today.

Verpaele was a member of Jeff Monken’s initial Army coaching staff as an offensive quality control coach in 2014-15. Since departing West Point, Verpaele built a solid resume as a defensive coordinator with Valdosta State (2017-19) and Kennesaw State (2020-22). He helped Valdosta State to a Division II national title in 2018.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report Verpaele’s hiring.

Verpaele, 37, will lead a position that must replace two-year captain and three-year starter Marquel Broughton and returns starting safety Quindrelin Hammonds as well as junior Aaron Bibbins and sophomores Max DiDomenico, Tommy Zitiello and Jordan Burrell. He was a third-team freshman all-American safety at South Florida in 2004.

Army also announced the promotions of two defensive assistants. Cornerbacks coach Daryl Dixon is now the team’s defensive pass game coordinator and inside linebackers coach Cortney Braswell is the defensive run game coordinator.