Michigan Football: 10 Things Wolverines Fans Must Know about Brady Hoke
Michigan has tabbed Brady Hoke as its new head football coach, ending one of the closest-watched coaching searches this season. Hoke has made a name for himself with his work at Ball State and San Diego State.
He's still a pretty unknown commodity in terms of what he's capable of and even just who he is and what he's done. Who exactly is Hoke, the man tasked with bringing Big Blue back to the forefront?
Here are some must-know facts about Hoke.
Brady Hoke Is a Michigan Man
1 of 10
There's been an undeniable premium in the Michigan coaching search placed on the incoming coach being a Michigan Man. Bo Schembechler coined the phrase and became the greatest coach in Michigan history despite not being a Michigan Man to begin with.
Brady Hoke spent 1995-2002 coaching the Wolverines defensive line under Lloyd Carr. So he fills that requirement. Now he's back in Ann Arbor as the head man.
Hoke Has Traveled All Over as a Defensive Coach
2 of 10
Brady Hoke started coaching as a defensive coordinator at a high school. He's coached defensive line at Grand Valley State, Oregon State and Western Michigan. He's also coached linebackers at Toledo.
Hoke has spent eight seasons as a head coach, going 47-50. He spent six years at Ball State and, most recently, two years at San Diego State.
Brady Hoke Turned Around Ball State
3 of 10
Brady Hoke's first four seasons at Ball State weren't anything to get too excited about as the Cardinals went 14-31. But Hoke began turning the program around in year five, going 7-6 in 2007 and taking the Cardinals to the International Bowl, their first in 12 years.
In 2009, Ball State enjoyed its best season ever, earning a 12-0 regular season behind quarterback Nate Davis. The Cardinals did lose in the MAC Championship to Buffalo and then lost without Hoke in the GMAC Bowl.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Brady Hoke Brought San Diego State Back to Relevance
4 of 10
Brady Hoke was hired Dec. 15, 2008 to be head coach of the San Diego State Aztecs. San Diego State hadn't been to a bowl game since 1998 until this season, when Hoke and the Aztecs defeated Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Hoke led San Diego State to a 4-8 record in his first season, but brought the program back to relevance with a 9-4 record in 2010, tying for third place with the Mountain West Conference. With his jobs done at Ball State and San Diego State, Hoke has developed a reputation of turning programs around.
Brady Hoke Can Adjust to Different Personnels
5 of 10
Brady Hoke used a traditional four-man front for his defense while coaching at Ball State. But when he took the job at San Diego State, he realized that his defensive talent laid in the secondary. Hoke implemented a 3-3-5 defensive formation to take advantage of his depth chart.
Hoke steps into a Michigan program with defensive problems. Hoke has shown the ability to coach players up in different systems, working toward their strengths.
Brady Hoke Uses a Pro-Style Offense
6 of 10
San Diego State turned from laughing stock into Mountain West challenger in just two seasons under Brady Hoke. Ball State rattled off a 12-0 regular season. Both transformations had much to do with Brady Hoke's offensive system.
Hoke has helped transform former Ball State quarterback Nate Davis and current San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley into very good players. Michigan's Denard Robinson isn't a prototypical pro-style quarterback. Hoke has to try to make it work or find a new quarterback.
Michigan Is Brady Hoke's Dream Job
7 of 10
Brady Hoke has made it clear that his dream has always been to be head coach Michigan. While at San Diego State, he was quoted as saying he would leave as soon as the Wolverines came calling. He kept his word.
There may be no coach more motivated to take Michigan back to prominence. With eight seasons as a Michigan assistant under his belt, Hoke is prideful of the Wolverine program.
Brady Hoke Can Recruit
8 of 10
Despite having limited experience on the West Coast, Brady Hoke hit the recruiting trail running at San Diego State. As much as the sunshine and beach draw recruits, a ghastly lack of facilities hurt previous coaches.
Hoke was still able to land the Mountain West's fifth-best recruiting class for 2010 and the Aztecs were expected to land another top five class in the Mountain West in 2011 before Hoke left.
Brady Hoke Knows the Midwest
9 of 10
Brady Hoke was born in Kettering, Ohio. He's coached in Michigan and Indiana, establishing recruiting ties throughout the Midwest. He's already recruited at Michigan and against Michigan while at Western Michigan.
Hoke's experience canvassing Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for talent will come in handy now that that area needs to be a major pipeline of talent for his program.
Brady Hoke Can Beat Ohio State
10 of 10
In eight showdowns with arch-rival Ohio State, Brady Hoke-led Michigan defenses held the Buckeyes to an average of 20 points per game. In the eight years that followed Hoke's exit, Ohio State has averaged nearly 29 points per game against the Wolverines.
When Hoke coached the Michigan defense, the Wolverines were 5-3 against Ohio State. Since, they're 1-7 against the Buckeyes.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
