UPDATED June 29, 2025
DeJuan Garland re-joined the Wayne State Football coaching staff in March of 2025 as defensive line coach.
He previously joined the staff in the summer of 2018 and served as a graduate assistant coach in the fall of 2018 working primarily with the defensive line.
Garland helped mentor Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selection Derrick Coleman during his first time with the Warriors.
Garland spent three years (2019-2021) on the staff at Ellsworth Community College serving as defensive coordinator in 2019 and defensive line coach all three seasons. Â During his tenure with the Panthers, he had 13 All-Region selections.
He mentored four All-Region selections in 2019, including First Team honoree Jake Poetzl who had 11.5 tackles for loss, including nine sacks and was also an NJCAA All-American. Â First Team All-ICCAC (Iowa Community College Athletic Conference) selection Keegan Glaus had 101 tackles, while Second Team All-Region members JaQuon Nicholson and Da'Viair Kinney had nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, respectively. Â Honorable Mention recipient Isaiah Bellamy had 6.5 tackles for loss.
After an abbreviated spring season in 2021 (no fall season in 2020), Davon Sears was named All-ICCAC, while Sears, Deaundre Brown and Tanner Cromer garnered All-Region recognition.
Garland tutored five All-Region selections in the fall of 2021.  Malcolm Bryant was a First Team member who totaled 10 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks. A trio of Second Team honorees in Tanner Cromer, Jaden Davis and De'alo McGee, were joined by Honorable Mention recipient Josaphat Tamatekou.
He was the head football coach at Mount Clemens High School in 2022 and 2023 leading the Battling Bathers to post-season berths in both seasons and a 12-8 record on the field. Â Garland also spent 18 months as the athletic director at MCHS, prior to being named as the head coach at L'Anse Creuse North in 2024.
In 2017 before coming to WSU, he was the linebackers coach at Warren Fitzgerald, his alma mater, after serving the prior two seasons (2015 and 2016) as a varsity assistant coach, and strength and conditioning coach at Center Line High School.
Garland was the running backs and linebackers coach at South Lake High School in St. Clair Shores in 2014, after two years (2012 and 2013) as the linebackers coach at Anchor Bay High School. While with the Tars of ABHS, he tutored All-State linebacker Alex Hamilton.
He began his high school coaching career as linebackers coach at Fitzgerald in 2007, a position he held for four years. Garland helped the Spartans win a district title in 2008 as the defense only allowed 74 points during the regular season. He coached three All-Macomb County linebackers, including Austin Gray who played at the University of Iowa.
After earning Honorable Mention All-State accolades as a senior in 1999 for Fitzgerald, Garland enrolled at Grand Rapids Community College. He played two seasons at GRCC and earned his associates degree in May of 2002. Â
As a freshman at GRCC in 2000, Garland rushed for a team-high eight touchdowns on just 41 carries, while playing in nine of the 10 contests. He also had one kickoff return and finished second on the team in scoring. In 2001, Garland played in the final seven contests for the Raiders, making five starts. He totaled 40 tackles (17-23), including nine for loss and one sack.
Garland played in eight games, starting four times for William Penn University (in Oskaloosa, Iowa) in 2003. He recorded 38 tackles (24-14), including a season-best nine stops (3-6) vs. St. Francis (Ill.). Both of his tackles for loss were against Quincy. Garland also totaled four pass break-ups and two quarterback hurries.
The following year (2004), he played in all 11 games, making five starts. Garland finished fourth on the squad with 47 tackles (27-20), including a season-best eight stops (6-2) against St. Xavier. He tied-for-third on the team with two interceptions and was fourth with 8.5 (8 solo, 1 assisted) tackles for loss. Garland had at least one TFL in each of the final four games. His interception on the game's opening drive in the season finale vs. Iowa Wesleyan set up the game's first score, while his fumble recovery led to another touchdown for the Statesmen.
Garland served as a student assistant coach at WPU, working with the defensive line, for two years (2005 and 2006). He earned his bachelor's degree from WPU in Physical Education with an emphasis on strength and conditioning.
A native of Warren, Mich., Garland graduated from Warren Fitzgerald High School in 2000, where he also earned All-Detroit and All-Macomb honors in basketball.
DeJuan and his fiancé Allison Bentley reside in Oakland County.
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