Today’s Topic: Why Did Greg Mattison Leave Michigan?
When the rumors about Ryan Day making a play for Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison first began, they were pretty surprising for a number of reasons. The main one being that Day was targeting Jim Harbaugh’s staff. Not that it’s a no-no, but it’s always a story when a coach leaves for a rival school.
There were other reasons as well, like Mattison’s age, or the fact that the Buckeyes had no need for his specialty, which was defensive line coaching.
Day didn’t see these as reasons not to hire Mattison, but rather reasons why he was such a good fit for the Buckeyes.
Mattison eventually accepted the job offer and he now gives Ohio State another of the most respected assistant coaches in college football.
But why did he leave Jim Harbaugh’s staff?
For that, you have to understand what his responsibilities have been of late, and what he would like them to become again.
Had he remained at Michigan, nothing would have changed for him and he would have been in 2019 what he has been every year since 2015.
“Defensive line coach, and that’s what I was for the last four years,” Mattison said. “With Coach Hoke I was the defensive coordinator, and two or three of the years with Gary Moeller and Lloyd [Carr] earlier I was the coordinator.
“I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at two of the greatest programs in the country and in all of college football. Luckily you add Notre Dame in there, I kind of say, wow, I’ve had a pretty good run.”
Despite the resume and the comfort level and the places he has been, he still had a desire to coordinate a defense.
When Jim Harbaugh was hired, he brought DJ Durkin on as his defensive coordinator, and Mattison — who was a holdover as DC since 2011 — had his coordinator responsibilities removed, but remained as defensive line coach.
Coaching is a job where ego can get in the way, but Mattison was a good soldier and did his job as well as anybody else in the country.
But he still had a desire to coordinate again, and that was what ultimately brought him to the team down south. Ryan Day’s offer of a co-coordinator spot with Jeff Hafley was too much for Mattison to decline.
“The big thing, leaving Michigan was a very tough decision. I spent 13 years there,” Mattison said. “But I also have spent 19 out of the last 24 years coordinating, and to have the opportunity to have a co-coordinator at a great university like Ohio State was something that — an opportunity that I really wanted to pursue, and that was the biggest thing.”
Jack Nause, you are right on and a true Buckeye! I think Mattison add a great deal of experience and will work in well with all the defense coaches! Why don’t those who think negative change that attitude and give great support to Coach Day, the Coaching Staff and, more specifically, the entire football team and all involved in Buckeye Football! GO BUCKS!
Dondh- there are “true Buckeyes” who remember Greg Schiano and Bill Davis, coaches with a “great deal of experience” who didn’t work out so well. There are also ‘true Buckeyes” who prefer to think critically BEFORE picking up the pom poms. You can be a diehard and still question/worry. Take your presumptions elsewhere!
‘Giving great support since 1978″.
Jack- as I repeatedly find myself doing, I must point out that YOU have become part of the peanut gallery that you have insulted (“Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes”, right? Any “Airplane” reference I can make, I will!)…
Part of the problem is that we don’t have all the facts. What we do have, is data on the coach himself and our own opinions on the “co-coordination” frenzy gripping teams that are desperately trying to massage egos of their hires. Will Mattison’s desire to coordinate again create friction between himself and the other new co- coordinator? Was he quietly shown the door at UM for reasons that would/should give us pause? We will find out. I’m hoping for the best, yet I find myself more than a little nervous about the hire.
Save all the speculation. Answers regarding the hire come from recruiting and winning/dominating defense. We need a return of the Silver Bullets!!!
“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” 😉
My friend…….as a Defensive Coordinator, Mattison was 3 wins and 2 losses against the Buckeyes.
I’m not defending his coming here, James, just laughing at it. Or I would be if I didn’t think there might be better choices about, even given Day’s desire for a balance of older coaches with young.
I didn’t think that you were defending him. I think another poster thought that Mattison was the DC for all 13 years. A couple weeks ago Tony had almost a mirror image article about Mattison. The only reason why I thought Coach Day hired him was for his experience as a DC rather than a line coach, which is what he’s been doing at Varmintville since Hairball brought in Don Brown. The Buckeyes certainly don’t have need of a line coach. Mattison knows most of the Buckeyes staff member hires on defense so his co-coordinator position should make communications rather seamless.
I think I’m probably like you questioning the hire. It going to be an interesting picture to watch get painted in 2019. The good news is that it’s mighty hard to imagine it could be any worse than the defensive stinkbomb the Buckeyes let fly in 2018.
My personal pick was for Marcus Freeman to take over linebackers and the coordinator role. Proud of his loyalty to Luke, but still a little disappointed that he didn’t come on board.
Weasels dominated all 13 years Mattison was there. I don’t see what he brings to the table except a losing attitude.
As “DC” of That Garbage can to the north, Mattison went 3 wins and 2 losses. The feather he can put in his cap is the heart rending win (painful for us) over the Buckeyes in 1996. It cancelled a sure fire National Title.
instead of criticizing, how about we get the facts. Mattison is as well respected a DC and recruiter as there is. He is big picture orientated and terrific with fundamentals. Also Day, a man who has skin in the game wanted him. He balances out the young guys. This is a brilliant hire no matter what peanut gallery fans think.