Report: Duke finalizes deal to add Maryland assistant to staff

Duke has finalized a deal with Maryland assistant coach Zohn Burden to become wide receiver coach and pass game coordinator on Wednesday, according to Yahoo’s Pete Thamel. His candidacy and the expectation of his hire were first reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz on Tuesday.

Before moving to Maryland this season, Burden spent five seasons on staff as wide receiver coach and running back coach at Virginia Tech. He was selected to participate in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Washington Redskins during 2017 training camp and with the Los Angeles Chargers the following year.

Prior to starting is coaching career at the FCS level, Burden played four seasons at VMI. He was named a three-time All-Big South wide receiver from 2002-05 and finished his career with 162 receptions for 2,101 yards and 12 touchdowns.

With the reported addition of Zohn Burden, Mike Elko’s first Duke staff continues to take shape ahead of the 2022 season.

More Duke staff additions

The addition of Zohn Burden continues the momentum gained by new Duke head coach Mike Elko, who continues to poach assistants from across the country. Lyle Hemphill, who served in the same role at Wake Forest since 2017 took a job as safety coach under Mike Elko. Hemphill and Elko previously worked together at Hofstra and Wake Forest.

Hemphill got his coaching start at Delaware Valley University in 2002 as a defensive backs and special teams coach. After heading to Delaware from 2004-05, he went to Hofstra from 2006-09, where he worked with the secondary and special teams. That’s where he met Elko, who worked as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Hofstra during that time.

Hemphill headed back to Delaware in 2010 before taking the defensive coordinator position at Stony Brook from 2011-16. In 2015, he earned FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year honors as Stony Brook held teams to just 250 yards — the best mark in Division I.

Duke has also hired former Texas A&M analyst Harland Bower to coach defensive ends for the Blue Devils. He worked with Elko with both the Aggies and Notre Dame, both in off-the-field roles. Elsewhere, Bower had on the field with Central Arkansas and South Alabama.

Bower will now be having his first on-field positional coach position within the Power Five.

Additionally, Elko will be bringing in East Carolina director of player personnel Derek Miller to Duke. He will serve as the recruiting general manager for the Blue Devils.