.New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison: 'Michigan is a special place'Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit NewsGreg Mattison left the Baltimore Ravens as defensive coordinator to take the same position at Michigan under new head coach Brady Hoke, and said the decision was easy. Mattison, 61, spent three seasons with the Ravens, the last two as defensive coordinator, to join Hoke, whom he considers one of his closest friends, and return to Michigan where he was an assistant coach from 1992-96. "The biggest reason is Brady," Mattison told The News on Tuesday night. "I know he's going to win. Michigan is a special place. The longer you're away from it, even when you're in the NFL, it's still Michigan. Every Saturday when we're in our rooms relaxing before the Sunday games, I always watched Michigan. That doesn't leave you." Mattison and Hoke worked together at Michigan and on Jack Harbaugh's staff at Western Michigan (1982-86), and are very good friends. Mattison coached Michigan's defensive line before taking over as defensive coordinator from 1995-96. Mattison, who went on to coach at Notre Dame and Florida before heading to the NFL, has always stressed fundamentals and technique. "Greg loves Michigan, loves recruiting and is excited about coming back to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan," Hoke said in a release. "Greg is one of the top defensive coordinators in football and his defensive units have always prided themselves on stopping the run. He will be a great asset to our program and an excellent addition to our staff." Hoke is nearing completion of his staff. He made official on Tuesday several hirings that The News reported Monday: Al Borges (offensive coordinator), Dan Ferrigno (tight ends and special teams coordinator), Darrell Funk (offensive line), Jeff Hecklinski (receivers) and Mark Smith (linebackers). All five come were on Hoke's staff at San Diego State, as was Aaron Wellman, the strength and conditioning coach. Fred Jackson, who will enter his 20th season as a Michigan assistant, is the only coach retained from Rich Rodriguez's staff. Jackson, who joined U-M's staff with Mattison from Navy, will continue coaching running backs. Hoke still has two staff openings. Mattison said it was tough to leave the Ravens, whose defense was ranked No. 3 in the NFL in 2009 and No. 10 in 2010. But he said Baltimore coach John Harbaugh helped make it an easy decision. "He has so much respect for Brady," Mattison said. "He came into my office and said, 'The job you've done here is unbelievable, but I would understand if you went to Michigan because it's Michigan. I would understand because it's Brady Hoke.' "I said, 'Coach, you just made my mind up. I'm going to go,' and he said, 'I thought you would. I'm really happy for you and because it's Brady.'"Mattison said prior to that conversation, he and his wife had discussed yet another coaching move. "When Brady got the job (at Michigan last Tuesday), I said to myself, 'If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this with Brady,'" Mattison said. "I wouldn't have gone to any other college team. I wouldn't have changed what I was doing for anybody but Brady. "When he called and said, 'I want you to be my defensive coordinator,' I told my wife, 'Oh boy, we made this career change and I may not coach 10 more years. It's not like I'm going to coach forever.' But you know what? He's special. What he's going to do at Michigan, my gut feeling is I want to be there with him when he does it. I want to do whatever I can to help him do that." Mattison inherits a Michigan defense that was ranked among the nation's worst last season. The Wolverines were 110th in total defense (450.77 yards), 108th in scoring defense (35.23 points) and 112th in passing defense (261.85 yards). Michigan was last in the Big Ten in all three categories. When Mattison was defensive coordinator at Michigan, the Wolverines were stingy allowing points. They allowed an average of 17.2 points in 1995 and 15.3 in 1996. Mattison wasn't specific in terms of what scheme he intends to implement this fall, saying he and Hoke would determine that. "You put the best front and the best coverage out there, and the intention is to be aggressive," Mattison said. "I'm going to do what's going to put Bo Schembechler, Lloyd Carr and Gary Moeller defense back on the field. I learned my defensive coaching from Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr. Those are the ones who influenced me more than anybody. "There's a certain amount of pride that goes with playing Michigan football. We will put a product on the field that is Michigan-type football. That's another reason I'm coming back — I know what I was taught by those Michigan coaches, and I want to put that back on the field." Former Michigan linebacker Jarrett Irons, a two-time captain, played under Mattison, as did Irons' younger brother, Grant, a linebacker at Notre Dame. Irons said he has watched Mattison's career since playing for him at Michigan. "When Mattison took over as defensive coordinator when I was there, it was his first stint as D-coordinator," Irons said, "so to see him go from his first stint to Notre Dame, Florida, Baltimore and coming back to Michigan, I've seen the growth he's made." Mattison will arrive in Ann Arbor on Thursday and said he is ready to start recruiting with the beginning of the national signing period on Feb. 2. Michigan has 10 commitments and will host on-campus visits this weekend after canceling the last two. "He's one of the best recruiters out there — he's a helluva recruiter," Irons said. "I'd put him in anybody's house and he'll sell them on Michigan and will be genuine about it." Despite being out of college coaching the last three seasons, Mattison said he doesn't believe he's lost his skill as a recruiter. "Don't worry about me recruiting," Mattison said with a laugh. "Recruiting is all about where you're at. If you really believe in the school you're at … it's easy to sell a place like Michigan."
(in all seriousness, I know it is a good school, which is why mistakes like that one are surprising to me...)
Very happy with this hiring. Hoke has a major uphill battle to fight, but this is a great hire. Due to the craptastic last 3 years and the uncertainty surrounding RichRod's future has left us waaaaay behind in the recruiting game this year. I really hope this hiring will make some of the remaining un-committed recruits seriously consider UofM again. Our defense was beyond atrocious this past year, and having a great DC should bring some more in. Looking at Rivals.com, we only have 10 commits so far, while most others have 20+? Ugh... Hoke and company needs to be on the phones 24/7 once they have their entire staff on board and pounding the pavement!
(in all seriousness, I know it is a good school, which is why mistakes like that one are surprising to me...)
