Hiram College Men's Football

Dupree was hired as the 33rd head coach in Hiram football history in December 2024 and now enters his second season at the helm in 2026, having re-joined the Terriers after serving two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Catawba College (NCAA Division II | Salisbury, NC). Dupree brings eight years of coaching experience between the Division I, II and III levels. In his first season in 2025, Dupree spearheaded the Terriers to their most wins in a single season since 2016, which included victories over Oberlin, St. Vincent and Bethany. Among the team's many accomplishments was the success of the passing game under Dupree and staff, as Sean Tejeda set the single-season program records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, total yards and total touchdowns. Tejeda earned All-PAC Honorable Mention honors and was named Hiram's male athlete of the year (Donald Campbell Award); also earning all-conference honors was Dylan Hargas, Kevin Dycks, Jordan Stapleton, Devin Tufts and Kade Scott -- five of the team's six all-conference winners were key members of the offensive unit under Dupree. Prior to Catawba, Dupree served as the wide receivers coach at Hiram from 2020 to the spring of 2023, elevating a position group that featured one of the best pass-catchers in the history of the program in Raequan Davis-Hereford. As a team, Hiram averaged over 13 yards per reception under Dupree in 2021 and followed it up with over 2,100 receiving yards in 2022 – those marks ranked sixth and fifth respectively in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Dupree was also instrumental in the improvement of Hiram College’s strength and conditioning program for a multitude of varsity sports. Following his winter lifting program in 2022, Hiram student-athletes had over 3,000lbs of improvement between bench press, squats and power cleans. In 2019, Dupree played a key role as the football strength and conditioning intern at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. He assisted with all areas of athletic performance at the Division I level, which included nutrition, sports science and strength and conditioning. He organized and led weekly workouts for the program’s developmental players and helped facilitate the day-to-day operations of the school’s performance facility. Dupree was also a Division I student-athlete at Middle Tennessee State (Murfreesboro, TN) as a wide receiver. Following his playing career, he served as a student coach with the program alongside wide receivers coach Austin Silvoy. In the spring of 2019, Dupree earned his degree in Multimedia Journalism from Middle Tennessee State along with a minor in Athletic Coaching.

Niles enters his third season as the defensive coordinator and his fifth season overall with the Hiram Terriers football program in 2026, having joined the Terriers from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where he spent two-plus years as a graduate assistant football coach with the Saints. Niles also served as the assistant head coach during the 2025 campaign, and played an integral role in increase Hiram's win total by three wins in 2025. Over his two seasons with St. Lawrence, Niles helped oversee remarkable improvement from the Saints' defense, as the Saints led the Liberty League in rush defense in 2021, and held opponents to just 16.0 points per game. As a team, the Saints also more than doubled their previous win totals under Niles, finishing 5-5 (2-4 LL) in 2021, while a pair of defensive backs earned All-Liberty League honors, including 2021 Second-Team All-Liberty League selection in Max Gilbert.   Additionally, Niles also spent the 2021 season coordinating a St. Lawrence's punt return unit that blocked one punt and had a long return of 33 yards.   A 2015 graduate of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., Niles played two seasons of football for the Dutchmen, helping Union to a co-Liberty League Championship in 2011.   While at Union, Niles also spent a year as a trainer with Top Form Incorporated in Castleton-on-Hudson, N.Y., training athletes ages 12 to 18, helping design daily workout routines tailored to individual athletes' sports, experience levels and goals.   Niles was also a star quarterback at Chatham High School, earning Class C Third-Team New York All-State honors in 2010, as well as first-team all-conference and Class C South Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading Section II in passing touchdowns. A four-time Class C South Conference Champion, Niles still actively holds seven Cougar passing records.   Niles earned his bachelor's degree in economics from Union College in Dec. 2015, and his master's degree in educational leadership from St. Lawrence University in May 2021.

Bruton enters his fifth year with the Hiram College football program in 2026, as he continues his second stint with the Terriers. He returned to Hiram after spending time at Morehead State University, where he competed as a student-athlete for the Eagles football program. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Bruton began his collegiate playing career at Livingstone College before transferring to Morehead State University. He was a two-time Academic All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection and later earned Academic All-Pioneer Football League honors during his time at Morehead State, reflecting his commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Since returning to Hiram, Bruton has developed a reputation as one of the top young quarterback coaches and offensive minds in Division III football. Working closely with quarterback Sean Tejeda, he has helped engineer one of the most explosive passing attacks in program history and a top-10 ranked passing offense in NCAA Division III. Under his leadership, the quarterback room has developed into one of the most productive units in the conference, consistently maximizing efficiency, explosiveness, and production. Sean Tejeda’s career under Bruton’s guidance includes: 3rd in program history in pass attempts 3rd in completions 2nd in completion percentage 1st in passing yards per game 2nd in passing yards 2nd in passing touchdowns During the 2025 season alone, Tejeda set single-season school records for passing yards, passing yards per game, and passing touchdowns, while also earning All-Presidents' Athletic Conference honors. Nationally, he ranked inside the top 20 in NCAA Division III in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and inside the top-10 in completions per game and passing yards per game. As a unit, Bruton coordinated an offense that set program records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer efficiency rating, establishing a new standard for offensive production at Hiram College. His ability to develop quarterbacks, design efficient passing systems, and elevate overall offensive performance has positioned him as a rising quarterback coach and future offensive coordinator at the collegiate level. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, further strengthening his long-term development as a future coordinator and program leader. Bruton is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Morehead State University in 2020 and a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Hiram College in 2022. Bruton and his wife, Jessica (Duncan) Bruton, are the proud parents of two children, Dallas Jr. (Deuce) and Palarris.

Mancini is entering his fourth season as the linebackers coach and his third season as the special teams coordinator with Hiram Football in 2026-27, having joined Hiram after spending time as the defensive line coach at Oberlin College.   During his playing career, Mancini spent two seasons playing linebacker at Thomas More University before joining the Terriers, where he played linebacker in 2020 and 2021. He tallied 45 tackles, a sack and an interception as well as two pass breakups with Hiram. Mancini graduated from Hiram College in 2022 with a degree in crime, law, and society.

Brumbaugh enters his third season as the Terriers' cornerback coach in 2026, having previously served as a five-year linebacker for Knox College (Division III | Galesburg, IL). Brumbaugh tallied 33 career games of action, which was highlighted by 128 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six this past season. Brumbaugh is from Forsyth, Illinois and attended Warrensburg Latham High School.

Lay II enters his second season with the Hiram football program in 2026, serving as the team's offensive line coach following a standout career both at the Division I and professional levels. He logged six seasons at Georgia Tech (Division I | Atlanta, GA) from 2017 to 2022, earning four letters while playing all three inside offensive line positions for the Yellow Jackets. He went on to the professional ranks in 2024, starting 11 games at center for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Lay II's playing career included a nomination for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2019, which is awarded to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on. In addition to his collegiate accolades, Lay II won the 2024 IFL National Championship with the Rattlers, beating the Massachusetts Pirates in the title game. Lay II majored in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech and is originally from Bowersville, GA.

Winkler enters his second season with the Terriers football program in 2026, serving as the defensive line coach following a four-year playing career at Knox College (Division III | Galesburg, IL). Winkler logged 30 career starts between tackle, guard and tight end while a member of the Prairie Fire. He also spent two years coaching high school football at Caledonia High School in Caledonia, MI. While at Knox, Winkler was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and later earned his bachelor's degree in Business and Management with an emphasis in Sports Management. He minored in psychology. Winkler is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and attended Caledonia High School.

Soltis enters his 32nd year as a member of the Hiram Terriers' football coaching staff in 2026, serving as the specialist coach, working with the kickers, punters and long-snappers. A 1977 graduate of Hiram College, Soltis began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at Cardinal High School in Middlefield, Ohio in 1977, where he coached the kickers, punters, and receivers for 15 years before returning to his alma mater in 1995. A four-year letter winner for the Terriers, Soltis's notably went 7-for-8 on PATs against Oberlin during the 1976 season, which ranks among the best single-game kicking performances in program history. Soltis earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Hiram College in 1977. He and his wife, Jane, reside in Parkman, Ohio.