Joe Dickinson (born July 17, 1956) is an American football coach and former player. Most notably, he served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Northern Illinois from 1991 to 1995, and the University of Oklahoma in 1998. Dickinson also was an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa, Marshall University, Tulane University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Dickinson was previously an NFL quarterback consultant for the Buffalo Bills [1] and served as the director of coaching and lead quarterback instructor for DeBartolo Sports University for fourteen years, conducting both private and group training events across the United States.[2] DeBartolo Sports University was owned by former San Francisco 49ers owner, Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. Dickinson is currently coaching private sessions for his Elite QBClub.

Joe Dickinson
Joe Dickinson speaking at a camp in December 2015
Playing career
 East Central
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1980Tecumseh HS (OK)
1981–1982Edmond HS (OK)
1983Davis HS (OK)
1983–1985Oklahoma (GA)
1986–1989Tulsa (RB)
1990Marshall (OC)
1991–1995Northern Illinois (OC/QB)
1996–1997Oklahoma (RB)
1998Oklahoma (OC)
1999–2000Tulane (RB)
2003–2006Central Oklahoma (QB/WR)
Quarterback Consultant Joe Dickinson (Right) with Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman (Left)

High school and college

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Dickinson attended Wayne High School in Wayne, Oklahoma, and was a four-sport standout. Upon graduation he attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, and was a three-year letter winner as quarterback of their football team.[3]

Coaching career

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Dickinson began his coaching career as an assistant for Tecumseh High School (1978–80), as well as Edmond High School (1981–82). He used that experience to gain a head coaching position in 1983, at one of the premier football programs in Oklahoma, Davis High School.

After concluding one full season, Dickinson became a graduate assistant for the University of Oklahoma (1983–85), where he was part of the 1985 Sooner National Championship team coached by Barry Switzer. During these years at Oklahoma, Dickinson was able to coach and work with Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

From 1986 to 1989, Dickinson would hold the position of running backs coach for the University of Tulsa before leaving to become the offensive coordinator for Marshall University in 1990. Under his direction, Marshall scored 42 or more points in four of their contests.

At the conclusion of the season, Dickinson took his play-calling skills to Northern Illinois University where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 1991 to 1995. In 1993, he helped oversee the nation's leading rusher, LeShon Johnson,[4] who carried for 1,976 yards on 327 carries while finishing 6th in the Heisman voting.

In 1996, Dickinson moved back to his native Oklahoma for a second stint with the Sooners coaching staff. He started as the running backs coach from 1996 to 1997, where he coached RB De'mond Parker who finished with 2,327 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in two seasons. Dickinson would be promoted to offensive coordinator for the 1998 season.[5] That year, he helped the Sooners to their best finish since 1995, but would leave the program with the arrival of Bob Stoops in 1999.

Dickinson accepted a position with Tulane University[6] to be their running backs coach. In the 1999 season, he guided five Green Wave players to carry the ball at least 38 times and help four of the five backs to achieve an average yard per carry of over 4 yards.

Wanting to be close to his home, Dickinson moved back to Oklahoma where he would become the Recruiting Coordinator and Quarterback and Wide Receiver Coach for the University of Central Oklahoma (2003–06). Here, he was attributed with bringing in highly touted recruiting classes and helped the Central Oklahoma Bronco quarterbacks pass for 8,944 yards and over 40 touchdowns in his four seasons with the team.

After concluding his twenty five years in the college coaching ranks, Dickinson helped tutor young quarterbacks through the Air 7 Quarterback University[7] that traveled throughout the United States.[8] The highlight of the Air 7 Quarterback University (known today as Football University) was the strong relationship with the United States Army All-American Bowl which highlights the top high school athletes around the country.

In 2007, Dickinson was hired to be the Lead Quarterback Instructor at DeBartolo Sports University which conducts quarterback camps and private training all over the country. Since 2007, over 1100 Quarterbacks have been trained by Dickinson, ranging from amateur to professional levels.

Throughout his coaching career, he has been credited to work with NFL quarterbacks Bubby Brister,Troy Aikman, J. P. Losman, Patrick Ramsey, Gus Frerotte,[9] Rudy Carpenter, Josh Freeman,[10] Rhett Bomar,[11] Matt Barkley,[12] Chase Daniel, Tyrod Taylor, Josh Johnson, and Mac Jones.[13][14] He is also credited with the development of college quarterbacks Austin Brown, Conner Preston (Southern Methodist University), Dayne Crist (University of Notre Dame), Cody Keith[15] (East Carolina University), Daxx Garman (Oklahoma State University),[16][17] David Cornwell (University of Alabama),[18][19][20][21] Alexander Diamont (Indiana University), Colin Feller (University of Miami), Graham Wilbert[22][23][24] (Florida Atlantic University), Quinn Shanbour (Oklahoma State University) Mac Jones[25] (University of Alabama), Myles Crawley (Grambling State University), Hauss Hejny (Texas Christian University), Major Cantrell (Iowa State University), and Brody Johnson (Northwestern Oklahoma). Along with his involvement in the development of top 2016 quarterback prospect Augie DeBiase[26] and top youth quarterback prospect JD Head,[27] Dickinson is also responsible for assisting in the development of the following 2014 and 2015 Division One quarterback commitments:[28] Travis Smith (University of Toledo), Landon Root (Northern Illinois University), Rafe Peavey (University of Arkansas), and John Jacobs[29][30][31][32][33] (East Carolina University).

Personal life

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He has also appeared in the Snoop Dogg television series Fatherhood, where he is shown tutoring Snoop Dogg's son who is focused on developing his quarterback skills. He is also part of the documentary, "The Hopeful,"[34] starring East Carolina University quarterback Cody Keith.[35]

Dickinson resides in Rosedale, Oklahoma.

References

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  1. ^ todayspigskin.com. "Heated QB competition for Buffalo Bills requires extra eyes". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  2. ^ bleacherreport.com. "DeBartolo Sports Instructor Joe Dickinson Having Huge Impact on College Football". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  3. ^ www.spoke.com. "Three-Year Letter winner as Quarterback of East Central". Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  4. ^ nytimes.com (November 12, 1993). "College football; LeShon Johnson's Land Rush of 1993". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  5. ^ hscalifornia.scout.com. "Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator". Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  6. ^ tulanegreenwave.com. "Coaching Bio". Archived from the original on December 30, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  7. ^ articles.courant.com. "Another Option to Learn".
  8. ^ hscalifornia.scout.com. "Los Angeles DeBartolo Football Festival Recap".
  9. ^ easternpafootball.com. "work with NFL quarterbacks" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  10. ^ pewterreport.com. "Dickinson brought in for first annual Josh Freeman Camp". Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  11. ^ insider.espn.go.com (July 13, 2012). "Q&A: Rhett Bomar on life after OU".
  12. ^ rapidcityjournal.com (September 25, 2010). "Coach Dickinson developing young quarterbacks". Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Patriots' Mac Jones keeps 'kid-like joy' of football by mentoring young QBs". ESPN.com. December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Howe, Jeff. "Mac Jones' coming-to-the-NFL story: How he paved path from Alabama to the Patriots". The Athletic. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  15. ^ thecarrollnews.com. "Cody Keith signs with East Carolina University". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  16. ^ mustangpaper.com. "Daxx Garman commits to play at Arizona". Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  17. ^ Trotter, Jake (September 25, 2014). "Daxx Garman's perseverance paying off". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  18. ^ newsok.com. "How Alabama commitment David Cornwell became a top quarterback prospect". Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  19. ^ newsok.com. "How Norman North's David Cornwell went from a freshman who couldn't throw much of a spiral to an Alabama recruiting target". Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  20. ^ normantranscript.com. "Cornwell has overcome his share of hardship in order to suit up for T-Wolves". Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  21. ^ espn.go.com (August 16, 2013). "A unique journey to the top". Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  22. ^ yahoo.com. "Graham Wilbert is Training Hard for His Shot at the NFL". Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  23. ^ fauowlsnest.com (January 30, 2013). "Wilbert Sets Sights Towards NFL Bid". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  24. ^ fauowlaccess.com. "Light workout". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  25. ^ Unruh, Jacob. "How Alabama's Mac Jones grew into Heisman finalist with help of Oklahoma QB coach Joe Dickinson: 'I knew he had staying power'". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  26. ^ rivals.com. "DeBiase returns to Providence". Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  27. ^ newson6.com. "Edmond Middle Schooler Considered Top QB Talent". Retrieved May 20, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ PRWeb. "Five DeBartolo Sports University Quarterbacks Commit To Division I Schools". Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  29. ^ okgridiron.com. "John Jacobs commits to East Carolina". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  30. ^ bonesville.net. "New 'Air Raid' pilot in the wings". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  31. ^ scout.com. "OKPreps top 25 for 2015". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  32. ^ bleacherreport.com. "Prep football star John Jacobs 'Best Dual-Threat QB in America,' Experts Say". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  33. ^ memphisport.com. "Five-star prospect John Jacobs visited Mid-South, labeled 'game changer' by scouts". Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  34. ^ imdb.com. "The Hopeful". IMDb. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  35. ^ cheshireacademy.org. "4-Star quarterback Cody Keith enrolls at Cheshire Academy". Retrieved August 14, 2013.[permanent dead link]