Dave Uyrus joined the Lions' personnel department in June 2000, and 2024 marks his 26th season with the club. Before joining the team's scouting staff, Uyrus had most recently spent seven years (1994-2000) with the New England Patriots. He worked as New England's assistant director of pro scouting (1994-96) and then was director of pro scouting. (1997-99). Additionally, Uyrus worked as a national scout for the Patriots in 2000.
Uyrus has been coaching and scouting for over 40 years, beginning with his first job in 1974 as the freshman coach of his alma mater, Middlebury College. In 1975, he coached the varsity tight ends at Brown University, and the following year he was an assistant coach at Lee High School in Lee, Mass. He then joined Dick MacPherson's staff at Massachusetts as a graduate assistant in 1977-78 before moving on to American International in 1979 and Merchant Marine Academy in 1980.
Following those stints, Uyrus re-joined MacPherson's staff at Syracuse in 1981. He spent 10 seasons (1981-90) with the Orangemen, six of them as the tight ends and special teams coach (1985-90). He moved into the professional ranks after MacPherson was named the head coach of the Patriots in 1991. He spent the 1991-92 campaigns as the Patriots' assistant defensive line and special teams coach before coaching the tight ends and special teams at Cornell in 1993.
As a player, Uyrus earned honorable mention Little All-American and All-ECAC honors as a junior and All-New England Small College honors as a senior at Middlebury.
He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters, Haley and Gwendolyn.
