D.J. Pirkle joined the WMU football program as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line prior to the 2013 season. He assisted the defensive coaching staff, while helping to prepare student-athletes such as 2013 All-Mid-American Conference defensive tackle Travonte Boles.
Pirkle is very familiar with head coach P.J. Fleck as he played at Northern Illinois during Fleck's three seasons with the Huskies. While a student-athlete, Pirkle was a four-year letterwinner appearing in 46 games and making 31 starts at defensive tackle. He finished his Huskie career with 75 total tackles, 22.5 TFLs and 8.0 sacks. Pirkle played in three postseason bowl games at NIU, helping his alma mater to a 40-17 win over Fresno State in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl.
Pirkle went into coaching almost immediately after his college career ended, serving as an assistant coach at Lincoln Way East in his hometown of Frankfort, Ill., in the summer of 2011. In 2012 he assisted in designing and implementing defensive schemes and blitzes while also running the scout offense for a team that finished as Class 7A runner up in the state of Illinois with a 13-1 record.
Pirkle (25/DOB: 11/21/1988) returned to his alma mater in August of 2011 as a facilities and game day operations intern, assisting with football, men's and women's basketball, softball, baseball and gymnastics.
During this time, 2011-12, Pirkle also continued his playing career, for the Tulsa Talons in 2011 and the Chicago Rush in 2012.
