Christian Dukes - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Jack Reeber

Christian Dukes

Title:
Cornerbacks Coach
Phone:
@CoachDukes_ (X)
Year at CMU:
2nd year at CMU
Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Alma Mater/Year:
Toledo/2015

Christian Dukes enters his second season on head coach Matt Drinkall’s staff at Central Michigan as the cornerbacks/nickels coach. Recognized for developing smart, tough, physically strong, and resilient players throughout his career, Dukes brings a decade of coaching experience.

In his first season at Central Michigan in 2025, Dukes helped guide the Chippewas to their first bowl appearance in four years. The team recorded a 7-6 overall record and a 5-3 MAC mark. The Chippewas’ seven wins were their most since 2021. Dukes’ cornerback unit was a strong point on defense, featuring Jaion Jackson, Brenden Deasfernandes, and Kalen Carroll. Jackson made 48 tackles, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and had seven pass breakups, including a forced fumble, Deasfernandes led the Chippewas with eight pass breakups, intercepted two passes, and made 25 tackles. Carroll contributed 52 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups.

Before joining Central Michigan, Dukes served three seasons at Youngstown State as the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator for the FCS Penguins under head coach Doug Phillips from 2022-24. At Youngstown, Dukes emerged as one of the leading young secondary coaches in FCS football. Over three years, he recruited, coached, or developed three All-MVFC defensive backs—Troy Jakubec, Jaylen Castleberry, and DJ Harris. Dukes also advanced two former walk-ons to full athletic scholarships. In recruiting, he signed Youngstown’s two highest-rated defensive backs ever.

In 2023, the Penguins won eight games and reached the FCS playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Veteran cornerback Troy Jakubec delivered his strongest YSU campaign and earned second-team All-MVFC honors in 2023. Jakubec paced the team with four interceptions, the most for a Penguin since 2016. He also contributed seven pass breakups and 34 tackles. Jaylen Castleberry’s rise provided critical support. Starting the final seven games, Castleberry amassed 27 tackles and six pass breakups. YSU's defense excelled on third downs, holding rivals to just 42 conversions on 142 attempts (29 percent). Seven times, the Penguins allowed three-or-fewer third-down conversions and limited Indiana State to zero conversions on 10 tries. They also held Southern Illinois and Duquesne below 100 yards passing.

Dukes spent two seasons at Tiffin University from 2020-22, guiding six All-GMAC selections. After his second year, he earned promotion to Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach. His first season he served as the Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs coach. The 2021 season marked one of TU’s finest, with an 8-3 record and the school’s highest mid-season ranking at No. 12 nationally. Tiffin’s pass defense dominated conference metrics, leading the GMAC in pass efficiency defense (112.8), and fewest passing touchdowns allowed (16). Tiffin ranked second in the GMAC, yielding just 200 yards passing per game.

Before returning to Tiffin, Dukes spent one season at North Park University (Ill.), serving as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach in spring 2019. He was later promoted to Defensive Coordinator in fall 2019. As defensive leader, he steered the Vikings to the conference’s top 5 in interceptions after previously ranking near last and finished the year with one All-CCIW conference selection.

In 2018, Dukes started his collegiate coaching career at Tiffin University, working with the defensive backs as a Graduate Assistant. That season, the Dragons had their second most successful year since 2006 and were ranked as high as No. 15 in NCAA Division II. Dukes mentored four all-conference defensive backs, and a Don Hansen All-American.

In 2016, Dukes launched his coaching career at Walnut Hills, and in 2017, coached at Anderson High School.

A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Dukes attended Colerain High School and had a standout prep career. He helped Colerain achieve top 25 national rankings in each season, posted a 58-game home win streak, and finished his career with a 30-5 record. Dukes was three-star prospect, ranked No. 41 among cornerbacks nationally and No. 32 in the state of Ohio.

After high school, Dukes chose Toledo amid offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Boston College, Colorado, Louisville, Marshall, Ohio, and Pittsburgh. Rivals.com listed him as Toledo’s 31^st-best recruit since 2000. At Toledo, Dukes served on the Leadership Committee selected by his teammates and coaches, was a four-year starter at defensive back, led the secondary in 2014 with 62 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery. He helped Toledo win bowl games in 2014 (GoDaddy Bowl) and 2015 (Boca Raton Bowl).

Dukes graduated from the University of Toledo in 2015 with a degree in Sports Management with a Minor in Counseling.

THE DUKES FILE

Birthdate: December 15, 1992
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Family: Wife Sheaira

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Sports Management, University of Toledo, 2015

Coaching Career
Cornerbacks Coach, Central Michigan University, 2025-current
Cornerbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Youngstown State University, 2022-2024
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, Tiffin University, 2021
Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach, Tiffin University, 2020
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, North Park University (Ill.), 2019 (Fall)
Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach, North Park University (Ill.), 2019 (Spring)
Graduate Asst, Defensive Backs Coach, Tiffin University, 2018
Cornerbacks Coach, Anderson High School, 2017
Cornerbacks Coach/Wide Receivers Coach, Walnut Hills High School, 2016

Coaching Accomplishments
10 years of coaching experience at four different schools … Named the 2022 FootballScoop Minority Watch List / Rising Star … Developed 17 all-conference and one All-America selection …Helped guide Youngstown State to the 2023 FCS playoffs … Helped lead Tiffin to the 2020 GMAC championship.