Christian Dukes - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Photo by: Jack Reeber

Christian Dukes

Title:
Cornerbacks Coach
Phone:
@CoachDukes_ (X)
Year at CMU:
1st year at CMU
Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Alma Mater/Year:
Toledo/2015

Christian Dukes joined Matt Drinkall’s Central Michigan coaching staff in December 2024 as its cornerbacks/nickels coach, he joins the Central Michigan staff with nine years of coaching experience.

Known to develop smart, tough, physical, and confident players over his career, Dukes recently completed his third season on the Youngstown State coaching staff where he served as the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator for the FCS Penguins under head coach Doug Phillips. While at Youngstown, Dukes was deemed one of the top young secondary coaches in FCS football.

In a three-year span at Youngstown, Dukes recruited, coached or developed three All MVFC Defensive Back selections including Troy Jakubec, Jaylen Castleberry, and DJ Harris. Dukes also developed two former walk-ons who received full athletic scholarships. On the recruiting trail, he recruited and signed Youngstown’s two highest rated defensive backs ever.

In 2023, the Penguins won eight games and advanced to the FCS playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Veteran cornerback Troy Jakubec had the best season of his YSU career and earned second-team All-MVFC honors in 2023. Jakubec led the team with four interceptions which were the most for a Penguin since 2016. He also added seven pass breakups and 34 tackles. The emergence of Jaylen Castleberry was a big help to the unit. Castleberry started the final seven games and finished with 27 tackles and six pass breakups. YSU's defense was one of the best in the country on third downs, limiting opponents to just 42 conversions in 142 attempts (29 percent). On seven occasions, the Penguins held opponents to three-or-less third-down conversions and held Indiana State to no conversions on 10 tries. The Penguins held Southern Illinois and Duquesne to under 100 yards passing.

Dukes spent two seasons at Tiffin University from 2020-2022 and mentored six All GMAC selections. Following his second year with the Dragons he was promoted to the role of Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs coach. During his first season he served as the Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Backs coach. The 2021 season was one of the best in TU’s history as the team posted an 8-3 record while holding its highest mid-season ranking in school history at No. 12 in the country. Tiffin’s pass defense ranked amongst the best in the conference in multiple categories, ranking first in the GMAC in pass efficiency defense (112.8), and first in the GMAC in fewest
passing touchdowns allowed (16). Tiffin also ranked 2nd in the GMAC, only giving up 200 yards per game through the air.

Prior to returning to Tiffin, Dukes spent one season at North Park University (Ill.). During Dukes’ tenure at NPU, he served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs coach in spring 2019. Shortly after joining the staff, he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator during the fall of 2019. While at the helm of the defense, the Vikings finished in the conference’s top-5 in interceptions after finishing next to last the previous season and concluded the year with one All CCIW conference selection.

In 2018, Dukes began his collegiate coaching journey at Tiffin University where he worked with the defensive backs as a Graduate Assistant. During his first stop at Tiffin, he helped the Dragons to the second most successful season since 2006, as the team was ranked as high as 15th in Division II. Dukes also mentored four all-conference defensive backs that year and, additionally, a Don Hansen All-American.

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

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dukes attended Colerain High School where he had a standout prep career. He helped Colerain reach top-25 national rankings each season while also posting a 58-game home winning streak and concluded his career with a 30-5 overall record. Dukes was three-star prospect and was ranked the No. 41 best cornerback in the country out of 162 prospects and 32^nd ranked player in the state of Ohio.

Following high school, Dukes chose Toledo over offers from Akron, Bowling Green, Boston College, Colorado, Louisville, Marshall, Ohio, Pittsburgh. Rivals.com named him the 31^st-best recruit in the Toledo football program dating back to 2000. While at Toledo, Dukes served on the Leadership Committee selected by his teammates and coaches, was a four-year starter at defensive back, in 2014 he led the secondary with 62 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. He helped guide Toledo to back-to-back bowl game wins 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 / Nickels 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 / WR Coach, Walnut Hills High School, 2016

Coaching Accomplishments
Nine years of coaching experience at five different levels … 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.