Dalmin Gibson enters his second season in the NFL as assistant special teams coach with the Minnesota Vikings and 12th year coaching in 2024 after spending a decade in the collegiate ranks, most recently spending the 2022 season as special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach for Southern Illinois.
In his first season with the Vikings in 2023, the special teams unit executed two successful fake punts, including a 31-yard run by second-year back Ty Chandler on a fake punt in the fourth quarter in Week 11 at Denver - the fourth-longest fake punt in Vikings history. LS Andrew DePaola was named a starter for the Pro Bowl for a second-consecutive season, becoming the first long snapper to earn back-to-back Pro Bowl honors since Rams LS Jake McQuaide in 2016 and 2017. K Greg Joseph connected on 24-of-30 field goal attempts (80%) and 34 of 36 PATs (94.7%) in 2023, making four field goals of 50-plus yards, including a season long of 54 yards.Â
As special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach for SIU in 2022, Gibson was instrumental in helping the special teams unit to five-spot improvement in FCS net punting rankings. He also helped SIU's defense finish sixth in the nation in rushing defense and seventh in sacks. Defensive end Richie Hagarty also earned First-Team All-Conference that season.
Prior to his role at SIU, Gibson spent two seasons (2020-21) on the Michigan State staff as a special teams analyst. Michigan State's improvement on special teams in 2021 was one of the reasons behind a school-record turnaround, as the Spartans went 11-2 and won the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl over No. 12 Pittsburgh.
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Jayden Reed earned first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as an all-purpose player thanks to a dynamic return game, as Reed led the Big Ten in punt returns (19.8 avg.; 12 returns for 238 yards) and tied for the FBS lead with two punt returns for touchdowns (62 yards vs. Nebraska, 88 yards vs. Western Kentucky). Reed also ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kick returns (23.5 avg.) and second in the Big Ten and 23rd in the FBS in combined returns (614 yards). He was selected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Nebraska after his 62-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter tied the game in MSU's eventual overtime victory against the Huskers. Reed was named one of five finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is given annually to the nation's most versatile player. As a team, Michigan State led the Big Ten and ranked third in the FBS in punt returns (18.2 avg.).
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Punter Bryce Baringer set a school record with his 48.4-yard average, which led the Big Ten and ranked fifth overall in the FBS. Baringer, a second-team all-conference honoree who was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List, ranked second in the Big Ten with 26 punts of 50-plus yards. Overall, MSU ranked second in the league and 13th in the FBS in net punting (42.9 avg.).
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The Spartans also ranked 19th in the FBS in kick return defense (17.7 avg.).
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Place-kicker Matt Coghlin became the school's all-time leader in field goals (76) and points (382) as he closed out his illustrious Spartan career in 2021. Coghlin earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors for going two-for-two on field goals in the win at Indiana Oct. 16, 2021, including a 51-yarder.
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Gibson spent three seasons at Colorado (2017-19), having joined the program in June 2017 as an intern before working his way up to a graduate assistant working with the defense. During his time at Colorado, Gibson worked with a legendary Pete Jenkins disciple, Jimmy Brumbaugh, who was the defensive line coach at the time, and they helped produced All-Pac 12 selections Mustafa Johnson and Terrance Lang. Prior to moving to the defensive line, Gibson assisted with the inside linebackers where Rick Gamboa was an All-Pac 12 selection in those years.Â
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Before Colorado, Gibson spent the 2015-2016 season at his alma mater Dickinson State University (N.D.) as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. While at Dickinson, he helped bring the program back to national prominence as the Blue Hawks won the conference in consecutive years as well as national playoff appearances. During that time Dickinson State led the country in interceptions, ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense, and ranked in the top five in sacks and TFLs. Linebacker Tommy Sease was also a two-time NAIA All-American under Gibson and went on to break the school record in tackles.Â
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Before going back to Dickinson State full time, Gibson was at Wayne State College as a graduate assistant, where he was the cornerbacks coach and assistant recruiting coordinator.Â
Gibson began his coaching career at Dickinson State, as a student coach while he completed his degree, after his stint as a four-year letterman at DSU at outside linebacker.
He graduated from Dickinson State in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and exercise science and received his master's degree in sports management from Chadron State College in 2016.
The Rapid City, S.D., native graduated from Harding County High School in Buffalo, S.D., where he lettered in football and basketball. Gibson and his wife, Sammy, have one daughter, Rua.
