DJ Bland, a Chicago native with eight years of coaching experience, joined the Northern Illinois University football coaching staff as cornerbacks coach on April 12, 2023.
Bland arrived at NIU after spending the 2022 season at his alma mater, Eastern Illinois University, as defensive pass game coordinator, cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator. He was on the opposing sideline when the two teams met in the 2022 season opener.
In his first season in DeKalb, the Huskies ranked sixth in all of FBS in passing defense, leading the MAC at 171.2 yards allowed per game for an improvement of over 80 yards per game from the previous year. Junior cornerback Javaughn Byrd was named to the All-MAC second team defense after forcing three turnovers (three interceptions and a forced fumble), breaking up five passes and recording 32 tackles. Jacob Finley added 33 tackles, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
“A couple months ago, DJ wrote me a letter, and when I called [Head] Coach [Chris] Wilkerson at Eastern Illinois, he was extraordinarily complimentary of DJ to the point that I said this is a guy I need to talk to,” Hammock said about bringing Bland to NIU. “When we interviewed him, he was outstanding. I couldn’t be more impressed with him – his teaching progression, how he develops players as student-athletes, what he’s done in his past, including an opportunity to be a defensive coordinator. He’s an excellent communicator. I feel really good about his ability to teach and develop the cornerback position for us.”
Bland returned to the Panthers’ coaching staff after four seasons at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He coached defensive backs and served as recruiting coordinator for three seasons and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2021 season. That year, the Missouri S&T defense ranked 17th in Division II in sacks and was ranked in the top three in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in eight defensive categories. In 2018, the Miners ranked 15th in Division II in total defense and won the Mineral Water Bowl. During his time at Missouri S&T, Bland coached five first team All-GLVC players, two All-Region selections and helped Roderick Chapman to All-America honors in 2018.
Prior to Missouri S&T, Bland coached defensive backs at Rose-Hulman (2017) and St. Norbert College (2016). At Rose Hulman, the defense ranked in the Top 20 in NCAA Division III in six categories, including second in the nation in sacks. Two of his Rose-Hulman players earned first team all-conference honors and Alec Thompson was named an All-American. He helped engineer similar results at St. Norbert as the defense ranked in the Top 20 in Division III in five categories with two players named first team all-conference and one - Ryan Grandlic – achieving all-America status.
After coaching at nearly every level of college football during his career, Bland was enthusiastic about joining the Huskie coaching staff.
“It's been an amazing journey for me,” Bland said. “I’m glad to be here. I want to bring a lot of energy and help get the corners right and make sure these guys get rolling. Coach Hammock gave me an opportunity and I’m so happy and thankful. The defensive staff is amazing, Coach Hammock is great and I’m extremely excited to be a Huskie.”
As a player at Eastern Illinois (2010-14), Bland played in 49 games as a defensive back and started 23, finishing his career with 168 tackles while his 23 career pass break-ups ranked in the top 10 at EIU all-time. The Panthers won the Ohio Valley Championship and advanced to the Football Championship Series (FCS) Playoffs in 2012 and 2013. He started at cornerback for EIU against the Huskies in a memorable 2013 game, making seven tackles as Jordan Lynch led NIU to a 43-39 win over the Panthers.
Bland, a product of De La Salle Institute in Chicago, earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from EIU in 2014. He and his wife, Molly, have three children, Rome, Maeve and Duke.
