And Here's A Mallory
#1 qualification: has practiced looking exasperated.
Finally. After years and years and years, one of the infinite Mallorys coaching college football will coach at Michigan. This edition is Curt, and he'll be the defensive backs coach.
Mallory is a former Michigan player, a defensive back who won letters in '89 and '90. He stuck around to earn his degree a couple years later and then started a coaching career under his father Bill, who was then at Indiana. After three years as a grad assistant at Indiana and Michigan, his paid coaching career:
- 1995-99 - Ball State University (linebackers)
- 2000 - Ball State University (defensive secondary)
- 2001 - Central Michigan University (defensive secondary)
- 2002-04 - Indiana University (defensive secondary)
- 2005-06 - University of Illinois (defensive secondary)
- 2007-09 University of Illinois (co-defensive coordinator/defensive secondary)
- 2010 – Akron (defensive coordinator)
Like Montgomery, that's a steadily increasing profile as a position coach, albeit one that took more time. After a couple years at Illinois he was promoted to co-DC with Dan Disch. This was a disaster. Whether it was awkward co-DCs or a wholesale lack of talent or Disch and Mallory just not being good DC material is unknown. The talent bit has to be a factor, but even so the numbers are mixed at best. Mallory's history as a DC, with season under him bolded:
| Team | Year | Rush D | Pass D | PEff D | Total D | Scoring D | FEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2006 | 51 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 91(!) | — |
| Illinois | 2007 | 36 | 83 | 52 | 55 | 26 | 35 |
| Illinois | 2008 | 78 | 49 | 71 | 57 | 67 | 41 |
| Illinois | 2009 | 76 | 100 | 103 | 91 | 96 | 91 |
| Illinois | 2010 | 32 | 61 | 58 | 38 | 48 | 26 |
| Akron | 2009 | 91 | 31 | 56 | 59 | 87 | 86 |
| Akron | 2010 | 72 | 113 | 116 | 99 | 106 | 107 |
Mallory inherited a decent situation that was masked by the vast incompetence of Juice Williams as a freshman, saw his unit steadily regress in yardage and FEI terms until it was a basket case and then watched the new guy turn things around immediately. I'm not sure the Akron numbers mean anything—that team was a biohazard—but I'd be pretty leery of grabbing him as a DC.
But he's not the DC, Greg Mattison is, so that's fine. Mallory's around 40, has plenty of experience recruiting the Midwest, and is a relatively young for a former DC. He'll be coaching the secondary, where he's also got a ton of experience. At Illinois he seemed to do a good job of turning Vontae Davis and Terry Hawthorne, amongst others, into fine players individually even if the stats didn't show it. Former player Allen Ball has described him as "my boy." His career is one of steadily moving up the food chain and he's the proverbial Michigan Man.
Insofar as we know anything about career assistants he seems like a good choice as long as he stops dressing his kids entirely in green. Seriously, someone stop by Moe's for him before the press conference Monday.
UPDATE: FWIW on Mallory's tenure under Zook:
There will be new faces at the most important coaching positions below Zook. The most important question, will Zook cede control of the defense to the new DC, or will it continue completely unaltered, because Zook has been in control of the D, regardless of who the assistants were.
I wouldn't put much weight on his tenure as Illinois DC
February 4th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
Looks like a receding hairline...how long before he's bald too on our staff??
February 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
It's not actually receding. You're just mentally projecting the lack of GERG hair onto the poor man.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
If the hair on a man's head is inversely proportional to his ability to coach defense then we are going to be much better this year.
I shall call this the Kojack Principal.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:07 PM ^
He's got more than than me at 24, give him a break
February 4th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
If he has a receding hairline, then I have a re...
Please excuse me for a moment.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
but good God, real men should never, ever wear sandals away from the beach. Ever.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:11 PM ^
How am I supposed to show off my French-pedicured toes?
February 4th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
You mean your "Freedom-pedicured toes," right?
February 4th, 2011 at 3:16 PM ^
It's all about bring toughness back to Michigan. GARRR. Toughness, tough, Midwest, smashmouth, tough, sandals.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
I believe the proper term in "mandals" but you should never wear those either.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
If I know anything about male pattern baldness - and I believe I do - he has another 4 - 5 years before he will be officially and technically bald. By that time, he will have proven himself, or not, and baldness won't come into play. In my humble opinion.
Edit: this was in response to M-Wolverine. I have no issue with baldness.
February 4th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
Live, baby! Live the next 4-5 years like they're the last of your life! Because in many ways, they will be...
February 4th, 2011 at 6:36 PM ^
Embrace the shinyness that is Bald. Bad Ass Loveable Dudes (B.A.L.D.)
February 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
Those kids are monster cute. And the little boy has the same camera we got for my 6 year old. :)
Rob
February 4th, 2011 at 3:24 PM ^
Agreed -- they look like nice people all the way around. I can't see them being a difficult "cultural" fit with the athletic department folks.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:29 PM ^
criticisms of the bad dose of Caucasion Syndrome that many of the staff seem to suffer? If not--wow has this place become mainstream.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
equal to the cash we get from Adidas.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^
I fee like the second picture could be easily photoshopped to hold up a miniature version of the "Never Forget" picture of the secondary from last year.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^
those kids will likely be assistant coaches at UM within the decade. since they are sons of a michigan man, grandsons of a michigan man, nephews of several michigan men, cousins and who knows what else of michigan men.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^
YES -- as long as he learned how to smack gum and avoid eye contact from Zook, he'll be an awesome addition.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
mallory was kind of a "blue collar" player that performed way beyond what was predicted of him, and left here as something of a superstar.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^
That's wholly different from what I remember. My memory is more along the lines of "legacy scholarship." I'm sure he played hard and represented the university well, but I don't think his reputation is based on his on-field achievements.
That doesn't mean he won't be a fine coach at UMich. Good bloodlines and all that ...
Aside: In case you're curious, I think "blue-collar" is in the same category as "tough," "smashmouth," and "physical." Nearly useless ... amazing how some coaches get the benefit of the doubt.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
He was "gritty".
February 4th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the right Mallory. Perhaps Mike or Doug?
February 7th, 2011 at 3:04 AM ^
u rite
February 4th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
Those stats are extremely underwhelming. I feel like (sans Mattison) the entire staff is made up of coaches who were hired based on their Michigan background rather than who would be best for the job.
February 4th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
"the entire staff is made up of coaches who were hired based on their Michigan background rather than who would be best for the job."
Al Borges - no Michigan background, Jeff Hecklinski - no Michigan background, Darrell Funk - no Michigan background, Dan Ferrigno - no Michigan background, Jerry Montgomery - no Michigan background, Mark Smith - no Michigan background.
Good catch, slick.
February 6th, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
You beat me to it. The new staff should be fine. I can't see hiring a Michigan man as a problem.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
twice as much as the outgoing staff... handed 20 returning starters...sweet 2011 schedule...stats may be underwhelming - but this staff hopefully wins more that 7 games...the 2012 schedule is a meat grinder...we lose leaders in Martin, Molk and Woolfolk... it will be a "tough" field to hoe recruits in.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
Or on whether Coach Hoke felt he had a good working relationship with them?
February 4th, 2011 at 4:19 PM ^
Does anyone have any news/insights on the 'lack of Corwin Brown offer' controversy? Hopefully this doesn't amount to anything that will result in a schism.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
Mallory has at least a decade before he'll be able to call himself "bald."
February 4th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
but in terms of the ability to reflect light off the top of my head.
It would be a very handy ability to have during a press conference; point your head at the right angle and you can blind a person asking an impertient question.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:32 PM ^
I for one welcome our new bald overlords.
February 4th, 2011 at 10:43 PM ^
...avatar is wearing a hat.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:31 PM ^
February 5th, 2011 at 1:22 AM ^
I had a full head of thick hair up until I turned 37. Wow, three years later I had lost most of it. Oh well! I don't care anymore that I'm 47 going on 48! It's only hair!
February 4th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
If he's going to stop dressing his kids in green, might as well take the opportunity to throw out the crocs too.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
of the new WAGS of the coaching staff??????
Big drop off from RR and crew
February 4th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
Sterling Mallory Archer. Codename: Dutchess.
February 4th, 2011 at 5:03 PM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
Is BH trying to change the perception that UM had lost its family values -- see Boren.?
February 4th, 2011 at 9:00 PM ^
from his playing days. Is he the linebacker who led the team in tackles the year after Erik Anderson graduated?
February 4th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
Great hire. It's all about Michigan family ties.
Hey Mallory!
February 5th, 2011 at 1:15 AM ^
I remember when his brother Mike Mallory played MLB when I went to school there. That guy was a tackling machine. Didn't Mike Boren go out with a knee injury in '84? I think we would have 3 or 4 more wins in he did not go down.
Curt will probably turn out to be a very good DB coach. Here's hoping he can develop our young DB into a great back field.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
I'm told Mattison really wanted Curt Mallory, and that goes a long way. Think about it.
My guess is the secondary is going to actually be better than average next year - borderline good - between the physical maturation process that will happen naturally, as well as the coaching, plus one more year under everyone's belt, i.e. the 2010 season. J.T. Floyd will have to battle hard to stay a starter, and realy in my mind James Rogers struggled all year. Courtney Avery made some mistakes for sure but also played very well at times last year. Ray Vinopal was solid much of the time in run support. Two true freshman. T. Woolf should be playing with something to prove, though his recovery will be interesting to follow as he lost over 20 lbs. last fall, and folks who have not had a major injury on an extremity that necessitates non-weight bearing may not realize quite how much atrophy takes place in the affected limb. Never the less, I expect he'll be good to go by September. Mallory has U-M in his blood, and will coach these guys like it is his last season on the planet. And with Mattison's guidance and full support, Mallory has never been in such a positive environment to see how much is really in the tank.
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