Delvin “Dee Milly” Myles - Leader of the Smack Squad

Photo by Sandra Agbotse  

Alabama to alaska 

Delvin Myles, affectionately known as “Coach Dee Milly,” is the new Defensive Coordinator for the Washington Wolfpack. Delvin was born in Mobile, Alabama. The son of a Military man meant moving to Anchorage, Alaska, at 10 years old. It was a big change, but Myles had learned all about football as a young child in the Deep South, and that stuck with him.  He played basketball, ran track, and did other things, but he always knew football was what he wanted to do with his life. 

Walter Payton is who Delvin looked up to as a kid: “his determination, his will to want to be great at something.” Really drew him in. Myles always wanted to be a running back, like his hero Walter Payton. But Primetime, Deion Sanders changed that for Delvin. When the Seminole star broke out at Florida State at defensive back, it changed the way Myles looked at the game. A Coach told Myles that if he could play good defense going backwards, as Gary Payton did in basketball, it could help him get to the next level. 

Division 1 Player 

It’s much harder to get noticed in Alaska for football than it is in Alabama. But that just added to the chip on his shoulder. Dee Milly had Division 1 offers from teams like Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Washington State out of high school, and he knew he was destined to be a D1 player. Grades stood in the way of those Division 1 dreams, so Delvin took the Juco route to start his collegiate career. He began that journey at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, Washington. 

Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone in practice just after his fourth game and missed the rest of the year. Myles was leading the nation in punt returns with two touchdowns and already had three interceptions on defense. He picked up where he left off the following season at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. That’s where he broke through and learned how to be a great defensive back. He became an All-American, and the D1 offers rolled in. USC, Fresno State, Georgia. They piled up. Ultimately, Myles chose Oklahoma State. He loved what the Cowboys were building and wanted to be a part of it. 

ProfesSIONAL football player 

After exploring some NFL opportunities, his agent sent him to the CFL in America. At the time, the Canadian Football League had multiple American teams, and Myles signed with the Memphis Mad dogs to begin his professional career. After the American teams folded, he was picked up in the dispersal draft by the Winnipeg Bombers. After the CFL, Myles found Arena Football with the Albany Firebirds. He played with a few guys whose sons are now stars in the NFL. Derek Stingley Sr, Eddie “Touchdown” Brown (Antonio Brown’s Father). 

He followed Coach Mike Hohensee to the Anaheim Piranhas, and that’s where he turned into a career Arena Football guy. He went to the Portland Forge Dragons in a dispersal draft before settling with the Los Angeles Avengers. After a few seasons there, Delvin spent three years with the Bakersfield Blitz. He ended his career as a player/coach with the Blitz under his mentor, James Fuller. That’s how Dee Milly got his feet wet in the coaching ranks. 

He moved back home to Anchorage, Alaska. It just so happened that the IFL was bringing a team to Anchorage, and Myles' reputation preceded him in the area. The former High School star was immediately asked to join the team and was once again a player/coach. A teammate for the Alaska Wild was none other than JR Wells. Now the Head Coach of the Washington Wolfpack. The two became friends and earned a great level of respect for each other, which only grew as Myles coached defense for the Oregon Lightning against Wells’ offenses here in Washington the last few years. 

Leader of the smack squad

The two’s respect for each other grew over the last few seasons, and Dee Milly called JR an “offensive guru.” He was honored when Coach Wells picked up the phone and offered him a job in Washington, and he is happy the two have reunited. “Building something very special for the state of Washington, not just the city of Everette, but the whole state to be proud of has been a total blessing, and I’m excited about where we are going with this.” Coach Dee Milly has “seen it all” and feels called by God to bring young men into their manhood on and off the field. “It’s very exciting here.” 

“Our training camp has been the very best I’ve been part of in my coaching career.” I’m looking forward to not just this year, but years to come as we continue to build.” “The elite type of athletes that we’ve brought in, they’ve bought into the system.” “Coach Wells has set the standard harsh and high.” “We try to help these men on and off the field, so that when they go back to their communities, they are better men in their community.” “We train to dominate.” “Controlled violence.” “That relentless never-stop attitude.” The fellas call their defense the “Smack Squad.” That's the intensity they bring to training and will bring to Wolfpack games this year. 

Off the field, Dee Milly loves to do “a little bit of nothing.” When it comes to downtime, that’s exactly what he loves to do. He’s an introvert off the field who loves to kick his feet up, enjoy a movie, and relax. You’ll also catch him working out and staying in shape. He loves to spend time with family, read, hit the lanes and go bowling, and play a little pool.