At San Diego State
- Doug Deakin has been with San Diego State for a total 17 seasons, a long association which started as a student-athlete and now continues as a full-time assistant coach.
- He has been the special teams coordinator for six seasons now, and also served as the tight ends coach during the 2018 campaign.
- Spent three years as the assistant for football operations with the SDSU program from 2015-17.
- Also served as a graduate assistant with the Aztecs from 2011-14, working with the defense and special teams.
- In 2023, the special teams unit continued their success under Deakin’s guidance ranking ninth in FBS per ESPN’s special teams efficiency rankings (65.9), marking his third consecutive season in the top ten.
- Jack Browning headlined the group earning a semifinalist selection for the Ray Guy Award after being named as the only player on the preseason lists for both the Lou Groza and Ray Guy Awards. He was also named all-MW second team.
- Along with Browning, the Aztecs had a pair of returners earn all-conference accolades. Mekhi Shaw was an honorable mention as the team’s punt returner while Kenan Christon earned it as the kick returner.
- In 2022, Deakin’s special teams unit ranked second in FBS in ESPN’s special teams efficiency rating (72.2), the second consecutive season ranking in the top five.
- In a passing of the torch moment, Deakin oversaw former holder Jack Browning take over all three kicking duties for the Aztec after Araiza’s departure. In his first season (2022), Browning would earn second team Pro Football Focus All-America honors, a College Football Network All-American honorable mention, Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year, first team All-MW, and SDSU Most Valuable Special Teams Player.
- Similarly, Jordan Byrd was also an all-Mountain West first team selection as both a kick returner and punt returner along with an All-American honorable mention by Phil Steele Magazine. His 689 combined kick return yards ranked seventh nationally and was the only player in FBS to return both a kick and a punt for a touchdown.
- Under Deakin’s watch in 2021, Matt Araiza received unanimous All-America recognition and won the Ray Guy Award, signifying the nation’s top punter.
- Araiza had the best punting season in the history of college football in 2021, setting FBS records in punt average (51.19), 60-yard punts (18) and 50-yard punts (39), and likely 70-yard punts (6).
- In addition, Araiza was named Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and merited first-team all-conference honors at punter to go with second-team distinction as a placekicker, becoming the third player in MW history to land on an all-league first or second team in the same season at both positions, joining BYU’s Matt Payne (2004) and Utah’s Louie Sakoda (2007-08).
- Collectively, Deakin’s special teams unit blocked three punts in 2021, which was tied for 10th in the country.
- Deakin’s pupils enjoyed another productive year in 2020, as punter Tanner Kuljian and kick returner Jordan Byrd garnered second-team all-Mountain West accolades, while Araiza received honorable mention at placekicker for the second year in a row. Kuljian led the MW with an average of 45.40 yards per punt. In addition, Byrd topped the conference with an average of 31.92 on kickoff returns, which ranked seventh in the nation.
- During the 2019 campaign, Araiza and punter Brandon Heicklen merited all-Mountain West honorable mention. Heicklen was named MW Special Teams Player of the Week on three occasions that season.
- In 2018, Deakin oversaw the emergence of tight end Kahale Warring, who received all-Mountain West honorable mention and was a third-round selection by the Houston Texans in the 2019 NFL Draft. Warring led the Aztecs with 31 receptions for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 2018.
- In addition, placekicker John Baron II became the just the second player to win MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors five times in the same season after Utah’s Louie Sakoda accomplished the feat in 2009. Baron, who connected on all five of his field-goal attempts from 50-plus yards, made three game-winning kicks during the 2018 campaign, which is tied for the most by an SDSU player in a single season since at least 1996.
Playing Experience
- A former walk-on at San Diego State who played 24 games on special teams over his final two years in 2009-10.
- Also served as the team’s holder on field goals and extra-point attempts during that span.
- Selected as one of three captains by his teammates during his senior year in 2010.
- Ran 13 yards for a first down off a fake field-goal attempt in the Aztecs’ 41-7 conquest of Utah State on Sept. 25, 2010.
- Also saw action in SDSU’s 35-14 triumph over Navy in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl, which marked the Aztecs’ first bowl appearance since 1998 and first bowl victory since 1969.
- Earned the SDSU President’s Award for Highest Standards of Academic and Athletic Excellence in 2008.
- Also garnered Mountain West all-academic honors in 2009.
- Was additionally nominated for the College Football Rudy Awards, which recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate excellent character, contribution and commitment as members of their college football teams.
Education
- Received his undergraduate degree in business management from San Diego State in 2010, before earning his master’s in educational leadership from the University in 2014.
Personal
- Is married to the former Emily Diggins.