| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1956-02-07)February 7, 1956 Muncie, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | April 15, 2025(2025-04-15) (aged 69) |
| Playing career | |
| 1975-1977 | Manchester (IN) |
| Position | Offensive lineman |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1982–1983 | Franklin (IN) (OL) |
| 1984 | Fort Hays State (OL) |
| 1985–1986 | Fort Hays State (OC/QB/WR) |
| 1987–1988 | Eastern Illinois (OL) |
| 1988–1989 | Ball State (OL) |
| 1990–1991 | Colorado State (OL) |
| 1992 | Northwestern (OL) |
| 1993–1996 | Michigan (OL) |
| 1997–1999 | Michigan (OC) |
| 2000–2003 | Central Michigan |
| 2004–2005 | Michigan (ST/RC) |
| 2006–2007 | Michigan (OC/TE) |
| 2008 | Seattle Seahawks (AOL) |
| 2009 | Seattle Seahawks (TE) |
| 2010–2012 | Chicago Bears (TE) |
| 2015–2016 | Tennessee (OC/QB) |
| 2017–2018 | Indiana (AHC/OC/TE) |
| 2019 | San Diego Fleet (OC) |
| 2020 | Michigan (OA) |
| 2021 | Kansas (OC/QB) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2013–2014 | Michigan (sport admin) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 12–34 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| The Sporting News' National Assistant Coach of the Year (1997) | |
Mike DeBord (February 7, 1956 – April 15, 2025) was an Americancollege football coach who was a longtime assistant for theMichigan Wolverines and a head coach for theCentral Michigan Chippewas. He was theoffensive coordinator for the Wolverines for five seasons (1997–1999, 2006–2007) includingMichigan's 1997 campaign, in which the team won part of anational championship. He was the head football coach atCentral Michigan University from 2000 to 2003, compiling a record of 12–34.
DeBord worked as an assistant coach at theUniversity of Michigan for a total of 11 seasons, from 1993 to 1999 and again from 2004 to 2007. He coached professionally as an assistant coach in theNational Football League (NFL), with theSeattle Seahawks (2008–2009) and theChicago Bears (2010–2012).He was also the offensive coordinator of theSan Diego Fleet of theAlliance of American Football (AAF), and was the associate head coach andoffensive coordinator atIndiana University prior to joining the AAF.[1]
DeBord graduated from Wes-Del High School inDelaware County, Indiana. He started for four years on the offensive line atManchester College, receiving all-conference, all-district and honorable mentionNAIA All-America honors during the 1977 season when he was captain. DeBord later earned amaster's degree from Ball State in 1981 while serving as a graduate assistant.
Debord's coaching career began in 1978 atSouth Decatur HS.[2] In 1982, DeBord embarked on a college coaching journey that included stops atFranklin College,Fort Hays State University,Eastern Illinois University,Ball State University,Colorado State University andNorthwestern University before joining the Michigan staff under head coachGary Moeller.
At Michigan, he served as offensive line coach from 1992 to 1996. In 1997, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. During DeBord's first year as offensive coordinator in1997, Michigan won their firstnational championship since 1948.
DeBord was hired as the head football coach atCentral Michigan by athletic directorHerb Deromedi in 2000.[3] He would go on to post a 12–34 record, resigning after the 2003 season.[4] DeBord never won more than four games in a season in his time at Central Michigan.
DeBord rejoined the Wolverines in 2004 as special teams and recruiting coordinator for head coachLloyd Carr, taking over the role filled by the retiringBobby Morrison. DeBord served in that capacity for two seasons before succeedingTerry Malone as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach in 2006. Malone had previously replaced DeBord when DeBord took the head coaching job at Central Michigan in 2000.
DeBord was a candidate for the head coaching position at Michigan following the retirement ofLloyd Carr in 2007.[5] The job ultimately went toRich Rodriguez, who fired all Michigan assistant coaches except running backs coachFred Jackson.[6] As the offensive coordinator at Michigan, DeBord posted a 52–11 regular season record and a post season record of 4–1.
On March 5, 2008, the Seattle Seahawks announced that DeBord had been hired as the assistant offensive line coach. DeBord was promoted to tight end coach for the2009 season.
On February 2, 2010, the Chicago Bears announced DeBord as their new tight ends coach, after coming to terms for the2010 season.[7] DeBord was dismissed by new head coachMarc Trestman on January 17, 2013.[8]
On February 5, 2015, DeBord was hired by Tennessee head coachButch Jones as offensive coordinator, replacingMike Bajakian, who left to become quarterbacks coach for theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[9][10] Jones had previously worked under DeBord as an assistant coach at Central Michigan.[11] On January 3, 2017, it was announced that DeBord would be leaving Tennessee to become the offensive coordinator for Indiana.
On January 4, 2017, Indiana head coachTom Allen hired DeBord as offensive coordinator, replacingKevin Johns, who departed the position for offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with theWestern Michigan Broncos.[12] On December 30, 2018, DeBord announced his retirement from football.[13][14]
In January 2019,San Diego Fleet offensive coordinatorJon Kitna departed the team to become quarterbacks coach of theDallas Cowboys.[15] To take his place, the Fleet hired DeBord, reuniting him with Fleet head coach and former Bears colleagueMike Martz.[16]
DeBord rejoined the Michigan football team on March 4, 2020, as an offensive analyst under head coachJim Harbaugh.[17]
DeBord was hired as the offensive coordinator forKansas on February 2, 2021.[18] He was not retained whenLes Miles was fired in March 2021 following reports of misconduct when he was coaching LSU[19] and replaced by Buffalo head coachLance Leipold with Leipold hiringAndy Kotelnicki as his offensive coordinator.
On February 1, 2013, DeBord was hired by Michigan athletic directorDave Brandon to be the sports administrator for the school's Olympic sports teams. In this role he worked with the field hockey, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's tennis programs.[20]
Debord suffered a major stroke in September 2021.[21] He died of complications from that stroke on April 15, 2025, at the age of 69.[22][23]
He was inducted into theIndiana Football Hall of Fame in 1995.[24]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan Chippewas(Mid-American Conference)(2000–2003) | |||||||||
| 2000 | Central Michigan | 2–9 | 2–6 | 6th(West) | |||||
| 2001 | Central Michigan | 3–8 | 2–6 | 5th(West) | |||||
| 2002 | Central Michigan | 4–8 | 2–6 | 5th(West) | |||||
| 2003 | Central Michigan | 3–9 | 1–7 | 7th(West) | |||||
| Central Michigan: | 12–34 | 7–25 | |||||||
| Total: | 12–34 | ||||||||
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