ABOUT CRIS DISHMAN

COLLEGE: PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Dishman, a dual sport athlete in football and track & field at Purdue University – always knew he wanted to play professional football. The irony of his original dream – he went to Purdue University as a Receiver on Offense, and was moved to Defense as a Defensive Back/Corner Back in the first team meeting. An idea that he was not initially crazy about – but trusted his coaches and took advantage of the opportunity given.

PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

After receiving his BS in Criminal Justice, the Boilermaker entered into the NFL Draft. Drafted #125 by the HOUSTON OILERS – the Kentucky native headed south to begin his career. Spending 8 years with the Houston Oilers; 2 years with the WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (former Washington Redskins); 2 years with the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS; and his 13th season with the MINNESOTA VIKINGS, all including 2 Pro Bowl Selections and a slew of other NFL accolades – Dishman playing as a Corner Back was destiny.

PROFESSIONAL COACHING

“I’ve always loved to teach the game. I studied it so much while I was a player. I saw so many guys make avoidable mistakes. I wanted to help the next guy out so that they could make it even further in their career/life than me.” Dishman’s philosophies are truly a formula of part labor of love, part mission work, part competitive and unselfish spirit – a rare bill of material. Dishman approached his football retired life much like he did when he was switched from Offense to Defense at Purdue – he adjusted and continued to thrive.

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In 2005, Dishman pulled the trigger on his coaching career and crossed the pond over to Berlin, Germany to join the NFL EUROPE'S BERLIN THUNDER as the Defensive Backs Coach. Proving he’s an impact player now in the coaching realm – he developed and coached the defense to the #1 Passing Defense in the league – up 6 spots.

 

After the season concluded, he immediately returned to the States to participate in the NFL'S BILL WALSH COACHING DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP – a program designed to make an impact on diversity hires in Coordinator and Head Coaching positions. Dishman connected with powerhouse coaches and familiar faces – Norv Turner, Nick Saban, and Lane Kiffin. With a smile on his face, Dishman remarked, “this was a coaching experience equivalent to winning the development lotto.” The program not only developed NFL coaching experience it fostered strong relationships with some of the best coaching programs in the league – folks, Cris Dishman is in rare air.

Dishman went on to MENLO COLLEGE in Atherton, CA working as a Defensive Backs Coach. The next year he was promoted to Defensive Coordinator for the program. Smaller programs mean smaller budgets for staff salaries – but Dishman saw the huge payoff of learning the college schemes and paying his dues. That’s part of Dishman’s “secret sauce” – he puts the work in – and his players do the same. At Menlo College, Dishman coached the team to one of their best records in the school’s history.

Taking his talents south, Dishman got the call to coach from the NFL'S SAN DIEGO CHARGERS to be the Assistant Defensive Back’s Coach. This was the opportunity Dishman had prepared for – and he didn’t waste it. In two years where Dishman demanded excellence on and off the field of his players, the team’s passing defense was resurrected from a paltry last place in the league to 1st. Dishman expects to get results because he’s always going to put the work in – yes he’s a real person.

In 2013, after five seasons, the Chargers made a Head Coaching change that resulted in staff changes. Taking his time to find the right next move Dishman landed at BAYLOR UNIVERSITY in 2015 to begin his next step in coaching at a Power 5 Program. After one full season with the Baylor Bears, the head coach and other staff were released and interim staffing changes were made. Dishman continued to coach the Safeties into his second season on staff all the way to the Cactus Bowl Championship win. The Baylor Football program hired a permanent head coach who brought in his own staff. 

Answering the call once again in the pros, Dishman joined head coach Mike Sherman and the MONTREAL ALOUETTES staff in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as the Defensive Backs Coach. With a new set of rules, a wider field of play, Dishman brought his coaching formula for success. Marking notable improvement throughout the season in the secondary each game in the regular season, the Alouettes' secondary quickly became a defensive force.

In 2019, Dishman joined the XFL NEW YORK GUARDIANS as the Defensive Backs Coach. Reuniting with a coach from his Houston Oilers playing days, Kevin Gilbride, the team and league (full of coaching and player talent) was poised to make a huge re-entry into professional football. In March 2020, the league ceased operations citing safety and health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

In the Summer of 2020, Dishman joined IMG ACADEMY to coach the top ranked players in High School football on the National Team. Dishman remarked, "getting a chance to coach players who see themselves playing on Sunday, and I can see it happening for them also is a blessing." Working as the DB Coach and the Defensive Coordinator allowed Dishman to expand the depth of his coaching acumen with some of the best football players in High School football. At the conclusion of his second season with IMG Academy, Dishman was able to coach 7 DBs to Power 5 programs.

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In Winter 2022, Dishman joined the 2022 Inaugural season for the USFL as a Defensive Coordinator with the New Jersey Generals coaching with Head Coach Mike Riley. Taking his Coordinator game to the next level proved fruitful as the Generals finished up the season as Division Champs, went 9-1, and played in the Division Championship game. Veteran coaches from both the NFL and NCAA commonly remarked that the Generals' defense was one of the toughest defenses for an opponent to face. And stats, tell the bigger picture as the Generals Defense ranked #1 in Rushing Defense, #2 in Total Defense, #2 in Interceptions, and #3 in Scoring Defense.

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The next stop for Dishman was with the XFL as it re-imagines the next level of the pro football league under the ownership and leadership of Danny Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and the RedBird Capital. Dishman joins the XFL-VEGAS team as the Defensive Coordinator, coaching with Pro Football Hall of Fame player, Rod Woodson. Dishman views this role as an expansion of his work as a Defensive Coordinator in his coaching career. What drives Dishman in this role is finding top talent that may have not found a place in other professional leagues; developing the player on the field; mentoring the player off the field, and producing a highly competitive football product for fans, the community, and stakeholders. "This is a chance to bring all of our best talents and relationships together to deliver a one-of-a-kind football product", per Dishman. 

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In January 2024, Dishman got the call to lead the football program at TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY in Houston, TX as the 18th Head Coach. "This is a full circle moment and opportunity that presented itself at the right time. I'm ready. I have the resources ready. And most importantly I'm on this earth to develop the players so that they are ready and successful in life - on and off the football field." Dishman's leadership will undoubtedly guide the HBCU in the fourth largest city in the United States to new heights in the SWAC.

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Supporting Dishman is his wife Jennifer, their children, family, and friends. Wherever Dishman is in life, his goal is to give back to the community in which he makes the point, "we should never just live in a community; we should be serving the community we live in as leaders preparing for the next generations to come."