In his four seasons on Todd Whitten’s Sam Houston State staff, Duane Dirk has coached eight defensive linemen who have earned All-Southland Conference honors a total of 12 times including an NCAA Division I football championship subdivision All-Americans. He has been part of defensive staff that has produced 19 All-Southland players and achieved high league rankings in
turnovers caused, quarterback sacks and "red zone" defense. Two of his four seasons at Sam Houston, the Bearkats finished as Southland Conference runner-up.
At Tarleton State Dirk served two seasons on Todd Whitten’s staff as defensive coordinator. Helping the Texans to compile a 15-6 record during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Dirk coached six All-Lone Star Conference players. In 2004, nine of his players earned All-Lone Star Conference honors. Two years in a row, he coached the Lone Star Conference "Linebacker of the Year."
Dirk spent 13 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Central Oklahoma . There he produced 39 All-LSC performers and 11 NCAA Division II All-Americans. During his 13-year stint, Central Oklahoma won 79 games as the defense limited opponents to less than 300 yards a game in five of those years.
From 1987 to 1990, Dirk was defensive coordinator at Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, KS. From 1983 to 1987, he served as defensive coordinator at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. He helped lead the Ravens to a national championship in 1983 and four bowl games.
He was a graduate assistant at Kansas State University from 1981 to 1983. The 1981 Wildcats played in the Independence Bowl.
Dirk received both his degrees at KSU. He earned his Bachelor’s in physical education in 1980 and his Master’s in physical education in 1981. A defensive lineman for the Wildcats, Dirk lettered three years. He earned Academic All-Big Eight honors as a senior.
Dirk was an All-State offensive tackle at John Marshall High School in Milwaukee. He and his wife, Melody, have four children: Duane, Jr., John, Jennifer and Travis.
