Michael Zordich - Football Coach - University of Michigan Athletics

Michael Zordich

Title:
Cornerbacks Coach
Phone:
763-4422

Michael Zordich is in his sixth season as a secondary coach for U-M in 2020, where he focuses on the cornerbacks.

Since joining the Michigan staff, Zordich has helped the Wolverines boast one of the stingiest pass defenses in the nation. U-M has been a top-ten pass defense all five years including four seasons ending with top-three national rankings: first in 2016-17, second in 2018, third in 2015. U-M also led the nation in third-down percentage in 2016 and 2017. Zordich has helped four cornerbacks to seven seasons with first- or second-team All-Big Ten recognition.

Over a recent stretch, Michigan became the first team since 2001-03 to allow fewer than 2,000 yards passing in three consecutive seasons (2016-18). In five seasons with Zordich leading the cornerbacks, Michigan has allowed 60 touchdown passes while intercepting 54 passes.

Zordich coached Jourdan Lewis to the 2016 Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year honor in the Big Ten. Zordich also saw Lewis earn All-America honors in 2015 and 2016 (consensus), and Lavert Hill earn third-team honors in 2018. Under his guidance, Lewis set a new single-season school record pass breakup record (22 in 2015) as well as the career breakup record (45). Between Lewis (semifinalist, 2015; finalist, 2016) and Hill (semifinalist, 2018), U-M has had a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist three times under Zordich. Zordich has also coached two of the four players in Michigan history to have multiple pick-sixes in their careers (Hill, and Brandon Watson).

The 2019 season featured three players with multiple interceptions and a first-team All-Big Ten pick in Lavert Hill, whose 13 total pass breakups led him to tie for sixth all-time (29) for his career. U-M's pass defense was 10th in the nation and the unit finished top-25 in eight categories.

In 2018, opposing quarterbacks were limited to a completion percentage of 49.5 percent, averaging just 147.8 yards per game passing. Hill earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and fellow cornerback David Long was named All-Big Ten as a first (coaches) and third-team (media) honoree. Four of U-M's 11 picks were returned for touchdowns.

In 2017, the U-M defense ranked top-three nationally in five different categories. On average, the Wolverines forced opposing offenses into three-and-outs more than half of the time (51.2 percent), and the unit yielded just 4.32 net yards per pass attempt, best in the country. Within the conference, Michigan led the Big Ten in five statistical categories and ranked top-three in three other categories.

During Zordich's second season, the U-M defense ranked first or second in five more categories, including pass efficiency defense. Nearly 45 percent (44.5) of opponents' possessions ended in a three-and-outs, and U-M allowed the fewest red zone trips in the nation (28). The Wolverines led the Big Ten in eight defensive categories. Lewis allowed 0.36 yards per snap in coverage while cornerback Channing Stribling finished the year with 17 pass breakups, the No. 4 single-season performance all-time at U-M.

In Zordich's first year with U-M, the 2015 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. The secondary defended 65 passes in and improved that figure to 68 in 2016. Four players had multiple interceptions.

Before joining the Wolverines' staff, Zordich was the co-special teams coordinator and safeties coach for Youngstown State University in 2014.

Prior to joining the YSU staff, Zordich spent four seasons working with the defense for the Philadelphia Eagles (2009-12). He was the safeties coach during the 2011 and 2012 seasons after working as a quality control coach on defense in 2009 and 2010.

A Youngstown, Ohio, native, Zordich worked with the safeties at Youngstown State in the spring of 2009 before accepting a position with the Eagles. He also coached on the high school level as an assistant at Chaney High School and Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown.

A 12-year NFL veteran, Zordich played five seasons each with the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98) and Arizona Cardinals (1989-93) and two seasons with the New York Jets (1987-88). He retired from the NFL following the 1998 season, having posted 125 starts in 185 games. Zordich collected nearly 600 tackles, 20 interceptions and scored four defensive touchdowns. He returned three picks for scores and returned one fumble for a touchdown. Zordich also collected six sacks, forced six fumbles and recovered 11 fumbles during his career. He was drafted in the ninth round of the 1986 draft by the San Diego Chargers.

Zordich was an All-America safety and team captain for Penn State. He posted 60 tackles and had an interception return for a TD against Maryland during his All-America season in 1985. For his career, Zordich posted 201 career tackles. He graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management in 1986.

Zordich and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons, Michael and Alex, and a daughter, Aidan. Michael is a fullback with the Carolina Panthers. Alex played quarterback at Buffalo, and Aidan is a senior at Penn State.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Year	Team	Position
2009	Youngstown State	Safeties
2009-10	Philadelphia Eagles Defensive	Quality Control
2011-12	Philadelphia Eagles	Safeties
2013-14	Youngstown State	Safeties/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
2015-present	University of Michigan	Secondary Coach

THE ZORDICH FILE
Full Name: Michael Edward Zordich
Birthdate: Oct. 12, 1963
Wife: Cynthia
Children: Michael, Alex and Aidan
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
High School: Chaney High School
College: Penn State (B.A. hotel, restaurant and institutional management)