Photo Courtesy of Kevin Tucker

NEWARK, Del. -- Dyran (“die-run”) Peake, who served the past four seasons as a defensive assistant and special teams coach for the University of Delaware football team, has announced his resignation from the Blue Hen staff to accept the position of defensive backs coach at the University of Massachusetts.

Peake (at right) was one of two new coaches hired by Massachusetts first-year head coach Kevin Morris. In addition to Peake, Steve Tirrell was named special teams coordinator and defensive line coach in announcements made Feb. 26.

A search to replace Peake on the Blue Hen staff is underway. Head coach K.C. Keeler will begin spring practice on March 20.

Peake will return to Delaware Stadium this coming Oct. 10 when the Blue Hens host the Minutemen in a Colonial Athletic Association clash.

A native of Duncan, S.C., Peake, 30, served in several different capacities with the Blue Hen staff over the last four seasons. He joined the UD staff in 2005 as a defensive backs assistant and took over duties as cornerbacks coach in 2007 and special teams coordinator prior to the 2008 campaign.

Thanks to a much-improved defense, he led the Blue Hens to another outstanding season in 2007 when Delaware went 11-4 and advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision title game. Although the 2008 squad posted a disappointing 4-8 record, the Blue Hen defense ranked among the better units in the CAA, in part due to the play of cornerbacks Anthony Walters, Fred Andrew, and Tyrone Grant.

A 2001 graduate of Catawba College, Peake was an all-conference safety and a team captain and led the team to two NCAA Division II playoff appearances. He finished his career with 221 tackles and six interceptions.

Peake began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Duke in 2001-03 before being named tight ends coach and video coordinator at Cornell in 2004.

Peake and his wife, Latorsha, have a son, Jayden.