It’s been a week since Brady Hoke was hired as Michigan’s new head football coach, and since taking the job, he’s been working to assemble a coaching staff. Several of the positions have already been filled, but some openings remain. And that led to speculation that Hoke might be pursuing a few coaches whose teams might still be playing.
That appears to be exactly the case with the coach tabbed to be Michigan’s new defensive coordinator. Aaron Wilson of National Football Post reports that Baltimore Ravens DC Greg Mattison is expected to take the same position on Hoke’s staff in Ann Arbor. No official agreement has been made, however.
This would be Mattison’s second stint at Michigan. He was previously the defensive line coach from 1992 to 1996 (preceding Hoke), also serving as defensive coordinator those last two seasons. Mattison and Hoke previously worked together on Jack Harbaugh’s staff at Western Michigan from 1984 to 1986.
It is also believed that returning to Michigan holds appeal for Mattison because he has family in the area.
Mattison went from Michigan to Notre Dame, where he served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 1997 to 2004. From there, he then became co-defensive coordinator (and coached defensive line) at Florida. During his tenure in Gainesville (2005-07), the Gators won a national championship.
John Harbaugh hired Mattison as a linebackers coach for the Ravens in 2008. After one season, he was promoted to defensive coordinator. This season, Baltimore finished 10th in the NFL in total defense and fifth in rushing defense. In 2009, the Ravens finished third in total defense.
UPDATE: The report is now official. The Ravens announced that Mattison has accepted a position at Michigan and have promoted their secondary coach to take over for Mattison as defensive coordinator.
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