University of North Carolina Athletics
Football
Dré Bly
- Title:
- Cornerbacks Coach
- Phone:
- 919-966-2575
Dré Bly joined Mack Brown’s football staff at North Carolina as cornerbacks coach on Nov. 30, 2018. Bly had been hired in October of 2018 to coach defensive backs for the San Diego Fleet, under his former NFL coach Mike Martz, but couldn’t resist returning to his alma mater to mentor the position he played as a standout student-athlete. A tireless recruiter, Bly was named Rivals' ACC Recruiter of the Year for the 2022 class.
In his second year at Carolina, Bly mentored a group that was forced to overcome the loss of its top corner when Storm Duck was injured in the second game of the season. Despite the loss, the unit’s work in coverage helped the defense produce 36 sacks, the most for Carolina since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense and total defense ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games. The group combined to break up 17 passes, led by Kyler McMichael with six. True freshman Tony Grimes was worked into the unit throughout the year and made his first start against Notre Dame. Grimes, who graduated early and enrolled in August, ended up being targeted 23 times, allowing only eight receptions.
In his first season at Carolina, Bly mentored a group of cornerbacks that helped the Tar Heel defense become one of the nation’s top five most improved units in total defense and scoring defense. UNC allowed 373.2 yards per game, which was nearly a 75-yard per game improvement over the previous season, and bolstered its ranking by 56 positions. The scoring defense improved by 63 spots after holding opponents to 10.8 points less per game. Bly oversaw a group that was forced to overcome injuries all season. Starter Patrice Rene was lost for the year midway through the second game, while the other starter, Trey Morrison, missed parts or all of six games. Bly was forced to accelerate the learning curve for true freshman Storm Duck and redshirt freshman DeAndre Hollins, who started the year as a nickelback, to go along with back-up Greg Ross. Even so, the defense ended up producing seven more INTs (14) than it had the previous season.
A 2014 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame and 2017 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Bly had a brilliant career in Chapel Hill from 1996-98, helping lead the Tar Heels to back-to-back Top 10 finishes and three consecutive bowl victories. The Chesapeake, Va., native remains the only player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to earn first-team All-America honors in his first three seasons.
In 1996, Bly became the first freshman defensive player in college football history to earn consensus first-team All-America honors. That season, the Tar Heels went 10-2, beat West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, and finished No. 10 in the AP Top 25. Bly led the nation as a freshman with 11 interceptions in the regular season and added two more pass thefts in the bowl game. He was named first-team All-America by the AP, The Sporting News, the Football Writers and the Walter Camp Foundation.
When Bly repeated consensus honors in 1997, he became the first two-time consensus All-American in UNC football history. Carolina claimed an 11-1 record and a No. 4 ranking in the coaches poll and No. 6 ranking by the AP. Bly was part of a Carolina defense that finished among the top five in all major categories, including pass defense, run defense and total defense.
In 1998, Bly was named first-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and set the ACC career record for interceptions with 20, a record that stood until 2012.
The St. Louis Rams selected Bly in the second round (41st overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the NFL and had 43 career interceptions, returning five for touchdowns, and 20 forced fumbles. He was a rookie on the Rams' Super Bowl winning team in 1999. Bly also played for Detroit, Denver and San Francisco and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.
Following his playing career, Bly ran a youth football and baseball organization in Charlotte. He also remained active in the football community, coaching at Myers Park H.S., and most recently, working as a defensive intern with the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins.
Bly and his wife Kristyn, have four sons, Trey, Jordan, AJ, and Emanuel, and a daughter, Peyton.
The Bly File
Personal
Birthdate: May 27, 1977
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.
Wife: Kristyn
Children: sons, Trey, Jordan, AJ and Emanuel, and daughter, Peyton
Education
College: North Carolina ‘99
In his second year at Carolina, Bly mentored a group that was forced to overcome the loss of its top corner when Storm Duck was injured in the second game of the season. Despite the loss, the unit’s work in coverage helped the defense produce 36 sacks, the most for Carolina since 2000 and tied for fifth nationally. The scoring defense and total defense ranked in the Top 35 nationally of teams that played at least 10 games. The group combined to break up 17 passes, led by Kyler McMichael with six. True freshman Tony Grimes was worked into the unit throughout the year and made his first start against Notre Dame. Grimes, who graduated early and enrolled in August, ended up being targeted 23 times, allowing only eight receptions.
In his first season at Carolina, Bly mentored a group of cornerbacks that helped the Tar Heel defense become one of the nation’s top five most improved units in total defense and scoring defense. UNC allowed 373.2 yards per game, which was nearly a 75-yard per game improvement over the previous season, and bolstered its ranking by 56 positions. The scoring defense improved by 63 spots after holding opponents to 10.8 points less per game. Bly oversaw a group that was forced to overcome injuries all season. Starter Patrice Rene was lost for the year midway through the second game, while the other starter, Trey Morrison, missed parts or all of six games. Bly was forced to accelerate the learning curve for true freshman Storm Duck and redshirt freshman DeAndre Hollins, who started the year as a nickelback, to go along with back-up Greg Ross. Even so, the defense ended up producing seven more INTs (14) than it had the previous season.
A 2014 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame and 2017 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Bly had a brilliant career in Chapel Hill from 1996-98, helping lead the Tar Heels to back-to-back Top 10 finishes and three consecutive bowl victories. The Chesapeake, Va., native remains the only player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to earn first-team All-America honors in his first three seasons.
In 1996, Bly became the first freshman defensive player in college football history to earn consensus first-team All-America honors. That season, the Tar Heels went 10-2, beat West Virginia in the Gator Bowl, and finished No. 10 in the AP Top 25. Bly led the nation as a freshman with 11 interceptions in the regular season and added two more pass thefts in the bowl game. He was named first-team All-America by the AP, The Sporting News, the Football Writers and the Walter Camp Foundation.
When Bly repeated consensus honors in 1997, he became the first two-time consensus All-American in UNC football history. Carolina claimed an 11-1 record and a No. 4 ranking in the coaches poll and No. 6 ranking by the AP. Bly was part of a Carolina defense that finished among the top five in all major categories, including pass defense, run defense and total defense.
In 1998, Bly was named first-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and set the ACC career record for interceptions with 20, a record that stood until 2012.
The St. Louis Rams selected Bly in the second round (41st overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the NFL and had 43 career interceptions, returning five for touchdowns, and 20 forced fumbles. He was a rookie on the Rams' Super Bowl winning team in 1999. Bly also played for Detroit, Denver and San Francisco and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.
Following his playing career, Bly ran a youth football and baseball organization in Charlotte. He also remained active in the football community, coaching at Myers Park H.S., and most recently, working as a defensive intern with the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins.
Bly and his wife Kristyn, have four sons, Trey, Jordan, AJ, and Emanuel, and a daughter, Peyton.
The Bly File
Personal
Birthdate: May 27, 1977
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.
Wife: Kristyn
Children: sons, Trey, Jordan, AJ and Emanuel, and daughter, Peyton
Education
College: North Carolina ‘99
Bly Coaching History
| Years | School | Title |
| 2019- | North Carolina | Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks |
| 2018 | San Diego Fleet | Defensive Backs |
| 2015-17 | Myers Park HS | Assistant Coach |
Postseason Experience As a Coach
| Years | School | Bowl |
| 2021 | North Carolina | Duke's Mayo Bowl |
| 2020 | North Carolina | Orange Bowl |
| 2019 | North Carolina | Military Bowl |
Postseason Experience As a Player
| Years | School | Bowl |
| 1998 | North Carolina | Las Vegas Bowl |
| 1997 | North Carolina | Gator Bowl |
| 1996 | North Carolina | Gator Bowl |
UNC Men's Soccer: Bracken Serra, Cordes Shut Down Louisville, 1-0
Saturday, October 04
Carolina Insider - Interview with Courtney Banghart (Full Segment) - October 3, 2025
Saturday, October 04
Carolina Insider - Football vs. Clemson Preview (Full Segment) - October 3, 2025
Saturday, October 04
Carolina Insider - Men's Basketball Notes & Blue-White Game Preview (Full Segment) - October 3, 2025
Friday, October 03
