Greg Mattison is Leaving for Ohio State
For the second time in his career, Greg Mattison is departing Michigan with a giant middle finger, and leaving a giant hole.
Michigan assistant expected to accept job at Ohio State https://t.co/j4wcjDyLDr
— WolverinesWire (@wolverineswire) January 7, 2019
After the 1996 season, Mattison, then Michigan's defensive coordinator, left to join Bob Davie in the same position at Notre Dame. Michigan's 1997 defense, which owed much to Mattison's recruiting and eye for talent, then won a national championship without him.
When he returned to Ann Arbor in 2011 Mattison was more heralded—justifiably so—than head coach and friend Brady Hoke. Greg inherited the worst defense perhaps in the history of the program, gave them an identity, and recruited the bulk of a unit that was, by 2015, once again among the nation's elite (except in the one game that matters).
That wasn't the last coaching transition Mattison helped to rescue here. Mattison planned to leave when Brady Hoke was fired—even boxing up his office. However Mattison had deep connections with the Harbaughs, earning his first coordinator job from Jack at Western Michigan in the mid-1980s, and serving as John's defensive coordinator for two years with the Baltimore Ravens. As he had when Davie was replaced with Tyrone Willingham in 2002, Mattison—still under contract—accepted a demotion to defensive line coach, keeping his room intact under Jim Harbaugh. For another four seasons, Mattison remained one of the top assistants in the nation in recruiting while producing elite defensive linemen, whether they came that way (Rashan) or had to be stolen back from the fullback room (Winovich).
At 70 with his contract expired, Mattison was expected to remain or retire as a Wolverine. While no official statement has confirmed it so far, it appears that new Ohio State head coach Ryan Day offered Mattison a chance to be defensive coordinator again. It was reported shortly after the Mattison news that current OSU DC Greg Schiano won't be retained, and Pete Thamel just reported that 49ers DB coach Jeff Hafley will be accepting a "co-" defensive coordinator role there. Hafley, like myself, is 39 and has never been a DC.
Impact: So, it's not a good look, either for Michigan nor Mattison, whose reputation shifts immediately from Septuagenarian of Swag to college football's worst Benedict Arnold. Losing an accomplished and well-known assistant to the very fine people in Columbus will be press released as exactly the kind of deep blow its orchestrators intended it to be. Superficially swiping your rival's 70-year-old assistant, however, creates as many questions about longevity tomorrow as petty high-fives today. Mattison's defensive line expertise is superfluous at Ohio State, who poached top DL coach Larry Johnson Sr. from Penn State when Franklin took over, so at best this is a temporary move for Ohio State while they groom Hafley.
Michigan could also be fine. Rising star OLB coach Al Washington would have been tough to retain this offseason; Washington, like Mattison, is a strong recruiter with deep Ohio ties and in fact was previously the Michigan coach rumored to be considering an OSU job. Mattison's departure instead should clear the way for Michigan to promote Washington up the assistant chain while returning him to his most natural coaching position; Washington was Don Brown's defensive line coach at Boston College and at most of his other stops.
That all of course depends on whether Brown himself stays with Michigan or accepts the Temple head coaching job that Manny Diaz just bounced from. Harbaugh will have to wait a few more tense weeks to have a good idea of who's going to be coaching with him in 2019.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:07 PM ^
He's gonna work as a double agent for us!!
January 7th, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
this does suck..
The only positive thing I can think of is that maybe he is a spy for us in the Ohio program :-)
January 7th, 2019 at 4:16 PM ^
My issue with Mattison was that I thought his defenses tackled poorly. When he left Michigan the 1st time and went to ND i warned all my neighbors that their defense would regress with tackling. I was told I was correct. When he came back I was only thrilled because I knew he would wear that SB Ring into kids houses and say he coached Ray Lewis. We will be okay as long as we make the proper adjustments after the horror we witnessed at the end of the season.
Go Blue!!
January 7th, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
Am I the only one who thinks it's bizarre that neither in neither the article or the comments, nobody is mentioning that even after being a pretty damn good d-coordinator that he was downgraded for no reason to d-line coach by Harbaugh??
The guy had a hell of a d-coordinator resume, having been d-coordinator at the Baltimore Ravens and then did a very good job as d-coordinator at Michigan and was downgraded immediately for no reason.
Hard to blame him for taking a d-coordinator coach at a top 5 program at the country all things considered.
January 7th, 2019 at 5:17 PM ^
Uhhh do you remember that period where everybody with a running quarterback completely gutted our defense? That was Mattison.
January 7th, 2019 at 7:26 PM ^
BN, that was late Jim Hermann
January 7th, 2019 at 4:18 PM ^
BREAKING NEWS:
MSU hires Harbaugh's Coaxial Cable Boy to be their co-defensive coordinator
January 7th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Watch the tape that’s kid was fire all year
January 7th, 2019 at 4:39 PM ^
I uh...
January 7th, 2019 at 4:22 PM ^
There’s got to be a behind the scenes story here...amirite?
January 7th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Washington to DL - what Brown wants. Brown is staying - only conclusion. Line is critical to what Brown wants to do. He needs to control it. I think Temple reached out to him not other way around. Harbaugh will pay him anything to stay so this seems like the necessary adjustment.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:44 PM ^
This ^^^!
I am envisioning a very serious conversation between Harbaugh, Brown and GMatt in which GMatt was told his unit wasn't cutting it this year and he needed to step it up. As it's unclear whether or not GMatt's contract renewal was denied or whether he refused. Either way, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find out that Brown was really disappointed in the DL's production.
Also, I've said it a bunch of times in these Mattison threads, and maybe someone with more coaching/technique knowledge can chime in, but it always seemed like his DL never bat down passes nor draw holding flags. Anyone else notice that?
January 7th, 2019 at 6:35 PM ^
What is this nonsense? The DL was the strength of our team until all of Rashan, Chase, and Aubrey were hurt (and Kwity and Dwumfour in the bowl game). And every prior year under Harbaugh.
January 8th, 2019 at 9:21 AM ^
Thank you. Finally a comment that makes sense and isn’t so ridiculously biased as to seem like it’s coming from a 12 year old who’s gf just broke his heart.
People, do we all have amnesia?
Before 1pm on Monday, GMatt was considered a secret weapon on our coaching staff. Outside of his age, he was beloved and thought highly of by just about everyone in this thread. Not only has he been a DC at, let’s name them, Michigan, ND, Michigan again and now OSU, not to mention the Baltimore frickin’ Ravens, but he’s also been an amazing recruiter, pulling in the biggest recruit anywhere since recruiting rankings started (Gary) as well as pulling other 4 and 5* recruits from SEC country. On top of that, he develops that talent. And, when the aforementioned injured Rashan Gary was NOT in the game this season, we dominated. Yes, that’s partially because his absence meant he was no longer being double teamed, but still! We took out our most talented D line player and we got BETTER! (Again, he was injured). And yes, when he left for ND we won the NC...with HIS players! So at the very least that argument means he’s a great recruiter.
Last year our D line was a monster, one of the best in the country. This year we took a step back, not surprising considering we lost our best D lineman and our 2nd best D lineman was hurt all year. Hoke brought GMatt in and our defenses immediately went from pathetic (epically pathetic) to respectable and then to Top 10 nationally ranked. Durkin and DBrown have sustained that (did we forget that Durkin’s defense was top ranked too? On that note, when Durkin got shredded by OSU, this thread said he was garbage....why isn’t DBrown garbage now considering we long for the days of only giving up 40+ to OSU?)
But now that he’s taken a PROMOTION at the premiere football school in the B10 which is also one of the Top 3 football programs in the world, and he’s suddenly an average at best coach who we don’t need.
Just unreal.
Listen, he’s older, he’s going to retire soon, and maybe some young blood will do us good. Fine, I have no problem with that. But suddenly throwing this guy under the bus when he’s done so much for our program, not to mention has been an incredible coach is just childish. Yes he went to a rival. But he’s 70 and it’s his CAREER! He has every right to do that.
Admit this is a huge loss, especially considering that Washington is going to follow him to Columbus, and maybe admit that Harbaugh is struggling.
January 8th, 2019 at 10:54 AM ^
The interior DL most definitely wasn't the strength of our team. Sure Aubrey got hurt, but that's one guy among three. Surely, GMatt should have coached up a decent replacement.
Do you know who coached the rush ends? Hint, it wasn't Mattison.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
Last time he left to join the staff of a rival, we won the national title the next year. I say this is great news!
January 7th, 2019 at 4:31 PM ^
If Baltimore intends to trade Jon Harbaugh to Cincinnati, any chance he comes here as DC and Brown takes the Temple job?
January 7th, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
This hurts a bit.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:38 PM ^
I had the utmost respect for GMatt when he willingly took a demotion from DC to DL coach when Harbaugh arrived. Professionally, I don't blame him for taking the position at OSU. Personally, I am disappointed in him because it's OSU and he, as well as anyone, knows that kind of scum bags they employ. But we each got to make hay while the sun is shining, and it won't be shining for that much longer for GMatt.
Obviously, GMatt was a very good DL coach, but a couple of things always puzzled me about his DL's. First, as compared to the DL's of other programs, it seemed that his DL's very rarely batted balls down. I don't know enough about DL technique and coaching, but it sure seemed to that it happened to Michigan a lot more than Michigan did it to other programs. Secondly, and this was addressed by the press at times, his DL's seemed to draw a lot less holding penalties than you'd expect, even when they were CLEARLY being held.
Although this tarnishes my opinion of someone I respected a great deal, I think Michigan is going to be better off for it, if only because it appears that Harbaugh and Brown weren't interested in renewing his contract, i.e., there was something lacking in their opinion.
January 7th, 2019 at 5:39 PM ^
ESPN article states that he was offered a 2 year extension, but didn’t take it. Who knows?
January 7th, 2019 at 4:51 PM ^
Aside from the temporary feelings of getting 'Boren'd', the actual net effect of this at maximum may be we beat Mid Ten State by 40 instead of 43.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:52 PM ^
I would trade both of my legs, and my arms, and any non essential organs... As well as sell my soul to Lucifer himself for Michigan to beat Ohio State next year just because of Mattison becoming a turncoat.
January 7th, 2019 at 5:34 PM ^
Mattison is way, way, way down the list of reasons I want M to beat OSU. #1 is that they're OSU, #2 is that they've beaten us 14 out of 15, #3 is to get rid of the stink after we didn't back up our trash talk this year...
January 7th, 2019 at 5:42 PM ^
If Michigan beats tOSU in 2019, that makes it 14 out of 16.
That record still doesn't justify any talk.
January 7th, 2019 at 4:53 PM ^
I wonder how much Meyer is influencing this hire. GM was Meyer’s DC at UF. Meyer’s a big control freak and my hope is he will be in Day’s ear a lot, creating dissention and distraction at OSU.
January 7th, 2019 at 7:27 PM ^
Meyer will be too busy teaching his leadership and morals class.
January 7th, 2019 at 7:40 PM ^
"I love the idea of having two defensive coordinators" said Coach Day in a prepared statement. "I like having a diversity of opinions, and this way Coach Meyer and I each get to have our choice."
January 7th, 2019 at 4:59 PM ^
I think it is funny how people act like Mattison isn't a good DC anymore, as if he forgot how to coach defense. He coached defense for one of the best NFL defenses ever, for John Harbaugh. Ask John Harbaugh how good of a DC GM is. He is also a great, not a good recruiter. Urban Meyer called Mattison the best recruiter he has ever worked with. Defensive line is where the best teams shine, like Clemson and Bama. Now OSU has two of the best for the D Line with Mattison and Larry Johnson.
People forget that one of the reasons Mattison took the demotion to be Harbaugh's assistant is he wanted to stick around until his daughter finished school. She is probably done now, so why not take a top 5 DC job and double his paycheck? I don't see how he could say no? I don't see how this isn't a very good move for OSU?
January 7th, 2019 at 11:02 PM ^
The Ravens pushed him out and they didn't miss a beat .
January 7th, 2019 at 11:32 PM ^
Yeah, he's a bum. Coached at Baltimore Ravens, Michigan for almost 20 years, Florida, Notre Dame, and now Ohio State. What were they thinking?
LOL. Alumnus 93, go have another drink, it will make you feel better.
January 8th, 2019 at 9:26 AM ^
Agreed agreed agreed. It’s like people just have to sugar coat the bad taste. We lost a good coach. Just admit it. It’s crazy to suggest otherwise.
January 8th, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
Urban Meyer called Mattison the best recruiter he has ever worked with.
How many years ago was that? Things change. Did you know your grandparents? Where the same at 70 as they were at 55? Of course not.
Mattison's last big recruit was Rashan. He was approximately the 5th best recruiter on staff in the last two cycles.
don't see how this isn't a very good move for OSU?
Because we're not parting like it's 1999 anymore.
January 7th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
Maybe he wanted to be able to beat his rival.
[cries in wolverine]
January 7th, 2019 at 5:40 PM ^
First it was Dakich and now Mattison. How will we ever survive?
On the other hand, since we haven’t been able to beat OSU any other way, maybe sending them a bunch of our coaches will do the trick.
January 7th, 2019 at 6:11 PM ^
Time to put on the big boy pants and go all out. Time for Jim to go full Harbaugh and look at OSU like he did Pete Carrol.
This could very well turn the tides. Moves like this have a way of getting teams extra motivated. keep Al Washington if he wants to stay, if not, find another young talent, revisit the playbook, get angry and go into full submarine mode.
Go Blue!
January 7th, 2019 at 6:12 PM ^
I see both sides but my first instinct if I saw him on the street would be a double bird and a go F yourself
January 7th, 2019 at 7:28 PM ^
...
What on earth happened?!!
January 7th, 2019 at 7:34 PM ^
I wonder if this is related to Solomon leaving?
January 7th, 2019 at 7:44 PM ^
I think he got sick of our gimmick D and having a D you coached on get scorched by OSU and Florida was probably the straw that broke the camels back. I'm sure he would have stayed at Michigan if he was offered to be the DC.
January 7th, 2019 at 8:16 PM ^
It's surprising more than anything. I don't see this having a huge impact on Michigan next year, but I sure didn't see it coming. As fans we're so passionate about our teams that we assume that all of our coaches and players feel the same way. Clearly mattison is all about the paycheck. Go blue!
January 7th, 2019 at 8:22 PM ^
Why can't we have nice things?
Also I literally cannot believe Mattison would do this. WTF.
January 7th, 2019 at 8:30 PM ^
While this sucks, I am thankful for Mattison. He anchored the defense in our darkest of days and I'm sure the writing was on the wall in terms of his departure.
Nothing else to say here...
January 7th, 2019 at 9:57 PM ^
Sounds like...
OSU: "Greg...can you come here for a year and teach this young'in some of Don Brown's moves?"
Greg: "What job and how much?"
OSU: "Co-DC....a, lot of money"
Greg: "Sure thing"
I get that it is a business and everything, but it is hard to look at this and not sense done level of discord within the program.
If Down Brown leaves also, it seems like there might be some issue with JH?
It is hard to look at the transfers, the nature of some of them, the coaching uncertainty and, quite frankly, the on the field product, and not think there is a while lot going on that we don't know about.
Grist for the mill.
January 7th, 2019 at 10:11 PM ^
God, this seems like the wheels are just falling off. People are heading for the exists and we are basically down to Pep and Jim’s puzzled expression as a crap SEC team kicks our ass.
Come on Jim - we really need you to focus back in for a bit and pull this together.
January 8th, 2019 at 12:47 AM ^
Not a good sign.
Thought he was very happy at Michigan.
But not only was he not happy at Michigan, he is apparently happier with the idea of leaving and going to Michigan's top rival for his final coaching years.
Wow. Just wow.
January 8th, 2019 at 7:47 AM ^
This is the heralding of next year's good fortunes! NC, here we come!
January 8th, 2019 at 9:12 AM ^
Mattison can do whatever the fuck he wants with the remainder of his career and life....but this is a dick move any way a fan of Michigan can look at it.
Fuck him. Fuck OSU.
January 8th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
What in the literal fuck!?
January 8th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
Of course he should go. As Dwight Schrute said, “I’m going wherever they value loyalty the most.”
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