Temple University Athletics
Temple Elevates Yelk; Hires Diersen
7.22.19 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – Temple head coach Rod Carey announced the promotion of Tyler Yelk to outside linebackers coach from defensive assistant. He also announced the addition of Brett Diersen to the staff as associate special teams coordinator.
"Tyler is an excellent young coach and we promoted him to add balance to the coaching staff," said Carey referencing that there are now six full-time coaches with an offensive background and five on defense. "We are very fortunate to get a coach of Brett's caliber in the role of special teams coordinator. I've known him for 20 years and am excited that he and his family can join us at Temple."
With his promotion Yelk, who joined the staff in January from NIU where he worked in 2018 with Carey, now has on-field coaching duties and also is able to be on the road recruiting. After coaching the safeties under Carey and defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles a year ago, he will work with the outside linebacker/safeties this season.
Diersen, who spent the 2018 season at SMU, rejoins Carey for the third time. The two originally met in 2000 at Wisconsin-Stout. Carey then hired Diersen to coach the defensive line in 2013 when he was the head coach at Northern Illinois.
A 20-year college coaching veteran, Diersen has spent time tutoring all levels of the defense as well as special teams. His career has taken him from Wisconsin-Stout (1998-2000 and 2004-06), Dubuque (2001-03), Minnesota State-Mankato (2007), Nebraska (2008-10), Indiana (2011), FAU (2012), NIU (2013-17), and SMU (2018).
Brett Diersen Bio
Brett Diersen comes to Temple as associate special teams coordinator with over 20 years of college coaching experience. This will be the third time that he and Rod Carey have worked together. They originally met at Wisconsin-Stout in 2000.
Diersen came to Temple from SMU where he coached the defensive line in 2018. He moved to SMU to be with Kevin Kane, SMU's defensive coordinator, after the two spent four years together at Northern Illinois.
NIU ranked 26th in the nation in total defense in 2017, leading the nation in tackles for loss (8.8) and ranking second in sacks (3.31) and fourth in defensive TDs (5). NIU ranked seventh nationally in yards per play allowed at just 4.52, trailing only Alabama, Clemson, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio State and Michigan. They also ranked in the top 20 in 3rd down conversion percentage defense (11th), rushing defense (16th) and first downs allowed (19th). In 2016, NIU ranked 17th nationally and led the MAC in red zone defense.
Diersen helped the Huskies to four bowl games during his five-year tenure, three West Division Championship, and a MAC Title in 2014.
He spent the 2012 season coaching defensive line and special teams at Florida Atlantic after a season at Indiana as the defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator. From 2008-10, Diersen helped Nebraska to three bowl appearances working with a special teams and defensive line that featured AP National Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh. Suh was also honored with the Bronko Nagurski, Rotary Lombardi, Outland and Chuck Bednarik awards.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stout (1998-2000) and later returned there as defensive coordinator, defensive line and defensive backs coach from 2004-06. From 2001-03, Diersen coached the defensive line, outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Dubuque before spending a season with the defensive line at Minnesota State-Mankato (2007).
Diersen was a three-time all-conference defensive end selection at Huron (S.D.) from 1994-98, earning his bachelor's degree in 1998. He went on to earn his master's from UW-Stout in 2004.
He and wife Jenna have two sons, Brody and Hudson, and a daughter, Mila.
"Tyler is an excellent young coach and we promoted him to add balance to the coaching staff," said Carey referencing that there are now six full-time coaches with an offensive background and five on defense. "We are very fortunate to get a coach of Brett's caliber in the role of special teams coordinator. I've known him for 20 years and am excited that he and his family can join us at Temple."
With his promotion Yelk, who joined the staff in January from NIU where he worked in 2018 with Carey, now has on-field coaching duties and also is able to be on the road recruiting. After coaching the safeties under Carey and defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles a year ago, he will work with the outside linebacker/safeties this season.
Diersen, who spent the 2018 season at SMU, rejoins Carey for the third time. The two originally met in 2000 at Wisconsin-Stout. Carey then hired Diersen to coach the defensive line in 2013 when he was the head coach at Northern Illinois.
A 20-year college coaching veteran, Diersen has spent time tutoring all levels of the defense as well as special teams. His career has taken him from Wisconsin-Stout (1998-2000 and 2004-06), Dubuque (2001-03), Minnesota State-Mankato (2007), Nebraska (2008-10), Indiana (2011), FAU (2012), NIU (2013-17), and SMU (2018).
Brett Diersen Bio
Brett Diersen comes to Temple as associate special teams coordinator with over 20 years of college coaching experience. This will be the third time that he and Rod Carey have worked together. They originally met at Wisconsin-Stout in 2000.
Diersen came to Temple from SMU where he coached the defensive line in 2018. He moved to SMU to be with Kevin Kane, SMU's defensive coordinator, after the two spent four years together at Northern Illinois.
NIU ranked 26th in the nation in total defense in 2017, leading the nation in tackles for loss (8.8) and ranking second in sacks (3.31) and fourth in defensive TDs (5). NIU ranked seventh nationally in yards per play allowed at just 4.52, trailing only Alabama, Clemson, Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio State and Michigan. They also ranked in the top 20 in 3rd down conversion percentage defense (11th), rushing defense (16th) and first downs allowed (19th). In 2016, NIU ranked 17th nationally and led the MAC in red zone defense.
Diersen helped the Huskies to four bowl games during his five-year tenure, three West Division Championship, and a MAC Title in 2014.
He spent the 2012 season coaching defensive line and special teams at Florida Atlantic after a season at Indiana as the defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator. From 2008-10, Diersen helped Nebraska to three bowl appearances working with a special teams and defensive line that featured AP National Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh. Suh was also honored with the Bronko Nagurski, Rotary Lombardi, Outland and Chuck Bednarik awards.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin-Stout (1998-2000) and later returned there as defensive coordinator, defensive line and defensive backs coach from 2004-06. From 2001-03, Diersen coached the defensive line, outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Dubuque before spending a season with the defensive line at Minnesota State-Mankato (2007).
Diersen was a three-time all-conference defensive end selection at Huron (S.D.) from 1994-98, earning his bachelor's degree in 1998. He went on to earn his master's from UW-Stout in 2004.
He and wife Jenna have two sons, Brody and Hudson, and a daughter, Mila.
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