Dan Hicks completed his first season at Bryant as the Strong Safeties Coach in 2024.
Prior to arriving at Bryant, Hicks served on Coach Don Brown’s coaching staff at the University of Massachusetts as a Special Teams / Defensive Analyst, where he assisted with the Outside Linebackers. In his one year at UMass, he helped oversee the ninth-best passing defense in the country. The Minutemen's defense was ranked 12th nationally in third-down defense, 25th in first-downs allowed, and 55th in total defense.
Prior to UMass, Hicks served as a Defensive Analyst on Coach David Cutcliffe’s coaching staff at Duke University, working with the Defensive Backs. In 2021, he assisted in mentoring a group of veteran corner backs led by Josh Blackwell, Leonard Johnson, and Jeremiah Lewis. The trio registered 100 tackles, four interceptions, and 14 pass breakups in 2021. Blackwell’s seven breakups alone placed him tied for eighth in the ACC, while Johnson and Lewis finished tied for ninth with two interceptions each.
Hicks spent the 2019 season as the Wide Receivers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at American International College, where he guided Samad Davila to 2nd Team All NE-10 honors as well as freshman Kequan Jamison to the NE-10 All-Rookie Team. He also coached the Punt/Kick Returners, where he guided Kyle Boyer Tucker to All-NE10 Honors as a return man.
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Hicks spent the 2018 season as the Head Football Coach at Harrison High School, where he was the youngest Head Coach in the State of New Jersey. He received “Coach of the Week” accolades presented by the New York Giants and Gatorade and was a finalist for Gatorade / New York Giants “Coach of the Year” honors.
Hicks is a native of Harrison, N.J., and graduated from Fairleigh Dickson University – Florham in 2013 with a degree in criminology. He was a four-year letterwinner (2009-2012) as an Outside Linebacker/Strong Safety with the Devils.
