Mike DeBord suffers stroke, in ICU
Per the family. https://t.co/ErphthHyDF
Obviously a controversial figure here, but also a long time coach. Obviously wish him and his family the best.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Same here, in 2018. Was the beginning of the end.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
Terrible news. I took a class from Coach Debord back in the early 00s and ran into him a few times after at various coaching clinics. Always approachable. Like others have said, very nice/affable guy and despite his often frustrating playcalling he was an excellent coach/teacher. He will certainly be in my thoughts.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
Damn, awful news. Life is short.
Get better soon coach.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:52 PM ^
Mike Debord was the first person to offer me a scholarship. I will always remember the thrill of that, and how it immediately changed my life knowing I would be able to go to college without worrying about paying for it.
Get well soon.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:53 PM ^
I have been in Mike DeBord's shoes before. I survived after 5 days in ICU. It was miserable, but I made it.
It can be done.
Godspeed, Coach!!!
September 21st, 2021 at 4:56 PM ^
Here’s my Debord defense, which I’ve stated before with the following caveats:
1. He was not a great head coach, like a lot of successful coordinators.
2. By the late-2000s the game had clearly passed him by.
3. For this reason I didn’t want him back at Michigan in any offensive capacity after he left in 2007.
4. I’m not related to him in any way.
Having said all that, Mike Debord was one of the best coordinators in Michigan history. Look at his record below and disagree without falling back on “his play calling was unoriginal” or “he didn’t stay up to speed with the latest trends”.
Carr’s record with Debord as OC(5 seasons):
52-11 for a winning percentage of 82.5%.
4 out of the 5 seasons they won 10 games. The only season they didn’t was 2007 when the defense under Ron English was atrocious and he had a damaged Henne at QB.
Carr’s record without Debord as OC(8 seasons):
70-29 for a winning percentage of 70.7%
Only 2 of the 8 seasons did they win 10 games and they never lost fewer than 3 games.
I appreciate Brian’s opinions and analysis but this is one he’s always been off with. They were much more successful with him as OC then without and the best period of Michigan football in the last 35+ years was the 5 seasons with him calling plays.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:01 PM ^
Thanks TNBlue for a badly-needed fact-based comment on Coach DeBord's contributions toward the successes of Michigan Football. I agree that the past anti-DeBord commentary by MgoBlog posters have been off the mark and not worthy of the fact-based standards professed by many MgoBlog posters. There should be no 'controversy' associated with Coach DeBord' name, period.
As a recent acute stroke victim myself (completely losing motor control of my left side), my heart goes out to Coach Debord and his loved ones. [I also hope Coach Harbaugh honors Mike DeBord with some appropriate pre-game locker room comments to the team this Saturday. When I was in the ER, and then the ICU, after my stroke, I desperately needed a 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going' kind of locker room speech to stimulate my determination to recover.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:05 PM ^
So sorry to hear this. Get well soon.
September 21st, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
Honestly wouldn’t matter if this was an OSU coach/player, always always always hope for the best in this situation. Hoping for a swift recovery for him and comfort for his family
September 21st, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
As the offensive coordinator at Michigan, DeBord posted a 52–11 regular season record and a post season record of 4–1.
He was a darn fine OC for us.
Get well Coach.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
For as many cracks and as much derision as his playcalling received, he always did seem like a genuinely good fellow. Pulling for him and his family and sending good vibes.
September 21st, 2021 at 6:53 PM ^
Best wishes for a speedy recovery although I realize recovery from a stroke can be long and tedious.
September 21st, 2021 at 7:01 PM ^
Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:20 PM ^
Awful news! Best wishes to Coach DeBord and his family for a swift and full recovery.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:31 PM ^
Prayers
September 21st, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^
My prayers are not only with the coach but his family and doctors. Mike DeBord was a dedicated veteran coach and spent around 11 years helping M athletes. He was Offensive Coordinator for the '97 championship team. He did well enough here to get hired as a head coach at Central Michigan, came back to M after that, and then served a number of other mainly NFL teams as well.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:13 PM ^
Does anyone here actually think we were better off with RR then Hoke,. vs DeBord and the next hire ? I sure don't. There would have been continuity.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:40 PM ^
All the well wishes and positive vibes to Mike. Hope he can make a complete recovery.
September 22nd, 2021 at 1:19 AM ^
Dude is still coaching (was Kansas OC in 2021, well for a month anyway) and was on staff at Michigan as recently as last year. He has something left in the tank and here's to a speedy recovery.
September 22nd, 2021 at 7:09 AM ^
Get well soon, Coach!
September 22nd, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
Get well coach! Stroke is a horrible disease. Takes lives and independence.
September 22nd, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
Hopefully he gets on the road to recovery soon.
September 22nd, 2021 at 6:43 PM ^
Iv'e met Mike and worked with him at Tennessee. He is an outstanding person and very popular in the coaching community. Everybody knows Mike.