Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line Coach
- Phone:
- 763-4422
Greg Mattison is in his fourth season as defensive line coach for the Wolverines in 2018 after serving as Michigan's defensive coordinator for four seasons (2011-14). He returned to Ann Arbor in 2011 after spending three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, when in 2009-10 he coordinated one of the NFL's top defensive squads after coaching the linebackers in 2008.
During his time at the collegiate level, he has coached 19 future NFL players, including eight student-athletes drafted in the first three rounds and two first-round picks.
Mattison has coached five players to first or second-team All-Big Ten honors in the past two seasons: Taco Charlton, Rashan Gary, Maurice Hurst, Chase Winovich and Chris Wormley. Hurst also secured consensus All-American honors in 2017, in addition to being named Bo Schembechler Team MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and a Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist. He was the top-graded player at any position in the country by Pro Football Focus College, leading interior defenders in run stops and total pressures.
Most recently in 2017, Mattison's defensive line served as the engine of Michigan's defense that led the nation in pass defense and third down conversions for the second season in a row. Under Mattison, Chase Winovich led the Big Ten and ranked 12th nationally with 1.4 tackles for loss per contest, recording a TFL in 12 of 13 games.
Winovich (79 tackles, 18.0 for loss, 8.0 sacks), Gary (66 tackles, 12.0 for loss, 6.0 sacks) and Hurst (61 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 5.0 sacks) each surpassed the 60-tackle mark and set new career-highs across the board.
Overall, the Wolverines ranked top-three in the country in five major categories during the 2017 season, and also led the NCAA with a sack rate of 11.64 percent. More than half of opponents' drives (51.2 percent; 6.38 per game) ended in three-and-outs, and U-M ranked third nationally tackles for loss (8.5) and seventh in sacks (3.23) per game.
The year before in 2016, Michigan ranked first or second in the NCAA in seven categories, leading the Big Ten in eight categories, including scoring defense, total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, first downs allowed and third down conversion percentage.
Nearly 45 percent (44.5; 5.62 per game) of opponents' possessions ended in a three-and-outs, and U-M allowed just 28 red zone trips all season, fewest in the nation. Eight opponents were held to fewer than 85 yards rushing, and that same number of teams failed to score a rushing touchdown against Michigan. U-M finished second in tackles for loss per game (9.3) and ranked fourth in tackles for loss per game (3.54), the only school in the country to average more than nine and three in those two categories. Eight games in 2016 featured double-digit Wolverine tackles for loss, and seven of U-M's 13 opponents were held to 10 points or fewer.
Starters Chris Wormley (40 tackles, six sacks, nine tackles for loss), Taco Charlton (43 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 13 TFL; all career-highs), Ryan Glasgow (42 tackles, four sacks, 9.5 TFL; all career-highs) and Matt Godin (26 tackles, one sack, two TFL; all career-highs) enjoyed standout senior seasons, and each earned All-Big Ten honors, with first or second-team honors coming for Wormley and Charlton. Mattison also coached Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich to breakout seasons with a combined 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, with five sacks for Winovich.
In 2015, Mattison helped coach a defense that held the opposition to less than 100 rushing yards in seven games, and to less than 60 yards rushing in five contests. The defense pitched a shutout in three consecutive games for the first time since the 1980 season (BYU, Maryland and Northwestern); Michigan became the first FBS school to accomplish the feat since Kansas State shut out three straight opponents in 1995.
Chris Wormley, who earned All-Big Ten third team (coaches) and honorable mention (media) honors in 2015, was the team leader with 14.5 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks. Willie Henry was also an All-Big Ten honorable mention (coaches and media) in 2015, registering 34 tackles, while co-leading the team with 6.5 sacks to go along with 10 TFLs.
An experienced, proven defensive coach, Mattison brought to Ann Arbor 15 years of defensive coordinator experience at the collegiate level and two seasons in the NFL. During his time at the collegiate level, he has coached 19 future NFL players, including eight student-athletes drafted in the first three rounds and two first-round picks.
From 2011-14, Mattison's defenses ranked among the top 20 nationally in three of the four seasons in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense, turning around a unit that in 2010 ranked 108th nationally in scoring defense, 110th in total defense, 95th in rushing defense and 112th in passing defense.
In his first season back in Ann Arbor, Mattison coordinated a Wolverines defense that helped U-M to an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl victory. The defense ranked second in the Big Ten and sixth nationally in scoring defense, surrendering 17.4 points per game, while it allowed 322.2 yards per game, ranking fourth in the conference and 17th in the country. The Wolverines also led the Big Ten in fourth-down conversion percentage (38.1 percent), red zone defense (68.3 percent scoring efficiency), turnovers forced (29) and fumbles recovered (20), while they ranked third in rushing defense (131.7 yards per game) and third-down conversion percentage (36.4 percent). Mattison was named a Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year finalist.
In 2012, Mattison's defense allowed 19.8 points per game, fourth in the Big Ten and 20th nationally. The Wolverines surrendered just 320.0 yards per game, ranking second in the conference and 13th in the FBS, and 169.5 passing yards per game, second in the Big Ten and tied for fifth in the country.
Meanwhile, in February 2013, Mattison was named the ESPN RecruitingNation Recruiter of the Year.
In 2014, the Wolverines listed seventh in total defense (311.3 avg.), 15th in rushing defense (117.7 avg.), tied for 20th in passing yards (193.7 avg.) allowed and 28th in scoring defense (22.4 avg.) and tackles for loss (6.8 avg.).
Mattison completed his third season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010. He was the team's defensive coordinator for two seasons (2009-10) after joining the staff as the linebackers coach in 2008. The Ravens finished as the No. 3 scoring defense in 2009-10.
Prior to his first foray into the NFL ranks, Mattison spent more than 30 years at the collegiate level, most recently as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the University of Florida for three seasons (2005-07). His defenses ranked among the top 10 nationally in rushing defense each of his three seasons. Mattison helped the Gators win the 2006 national championship and SEC championship. His defense held Ohio State to 82 yards of total offense in a 41-14 victory in the BCS National Championship game.
Mattison spent eight seasons (1997-2004) at Notre Dame before making the jump to Gainesville. He was hired as the team's defensive coordinator and alternated between coaching the linebackers and defensive line during his first five seasons. Mattison served as the Irish's recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach his final three seasons with the program (2002-04).
During his previous stint in Ann Arbor, Mattison coached the defensive line (1992-96) and was the team's defensive coordinator in his final two seasons (1995-96). The Wolverine defense ranked among the top 20 nationally in many statistical categories during his two seasons as coordinator.
Mattison has gained a wealth of experience during his coaching career. He also held coaching stints at Texas A&M (1989-91), Navy (1987-88), Western Michigan (1982-86), Northwestern (1978-80), Cornell (1977) and Illinois (1976). Mattison was head coach at Logan High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for two seasons (1974-75). He began his coaching career as head coach at Riverdale High School in Muscoda, Wisconsin (1971-73).
He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1971. He was team captain for the football and wrestling teams as a junior and senior. Mattison earned All-America honors in wrestling and was named the Offensive MVP for the football team as a senior.
Mattison and his wife, Ann, have two adult children: Lisa and Bryan. Lisa was a three-time All-Big East selection as a member of the Notre Dame softball team. Bryan was a two-time captain and three-year starter at defensive end for the University of Iowa football team and spent four seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Year | Team | Position |
| 1971-73 | Riverdale High School (WI) | Head Coach |
| 1974-75 | Logan High School (WI) | Head Coach |
| 1976 | Illinois | Graduate Assistant |
| 1977 | Cornell | Defensive Line |
| 1978-80 | Northwestern | Defensive Line |
| 1982-84 | Western Michigan | Defensive Line |
| 1985-86 | Western Michigan | Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line |
| 1987-88 | Navy | Defensive Line |
| 1989-91 | Texas A&M | Defensive Line |
| 1992-94 | Michigan | Defensive Line |
| 1995-96 | Michigan | Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line |
| 1997-2001 | Notre Dame | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2002-04 | Notre Dame | Recruiting Coordinator, Defensive Line |
| 2005-07 | Florida | co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line |
| 2008 | Baltimore Ravens | Linebackers |
| 2009-10 | Baltimore Ravens | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2011-2014 | Michigan | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2015-present | Michigan | Defensive Line |
ABOUT COACH MATTISON
Age: 65
Date of Birth: Nov. 15, 1949
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
High School: Madison East
College: Wisconsin-La Crosse (1971, physical education)
Family: Wife Ann, daughter Lisa and son Bryan
Bowl Experience (18)
Texas A&M: 1989 John Hancock Bowl, 1990 Holiday Bowl, 1992 Cotton Bowl
Michigan: 1993 Rose Bowl, 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl, 1994 Holiday Bowl, 1995 Alamo Bowl, 1997 Outback Bowl, 2012 Sugar Bowl, 2013 Outback Bowl, 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Notre Dame: 1997 Independence Bowl, 1999 Gator Bowl, 2001 Fiesta Bowl, 2004 Insight.com Bowl
Florida: 2006 Outback Bowl, 2007 BCS National Championship Game, 2008 Capital One Bowl
All-Conference Players
2013: Blake Countess (All-Big Ten first team), Frank Clark (All-Big Ten second team)
2012: Jordan Kovacs (All-Big Ten second team), Craig Roh (All-Big Ten second team), Jake Ryan (All-Big Ten second team)
2011: Mike Martin
2006: De Ray McDonald (All-SEC first team) ... Jeremy Mincey (All-SEC second team).
All-Americans
1996: William Carr (Michigan)
1993: Sam Adams (Texas A&M)
