Michigan Football: Brady Hoke Hires Ravens Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison

Brady Hoke will bring another Michigan Man back home, as he announced today that Greg Mattison, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens, has been hired as the Wolverines' defensive coordinator.

Hoke coached Michigan's defensive line under Mattison in 1995 and 1996, but is perhaps more famous for his stint at Texas A&M that produced the "Wrecking Crew" defenses—several of the nation's top defenses of the late '80s and early '90s.

“Greg loves Michigan, loves recruiting and is excited about coming back to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan,” Hoke said when he released a statement today. “Greg is one of the top defensive coordinators in football, and his defensive units have always prided themselves on stopping the run. He will be a great asset to our program and an excellent addition to our staff.”

The words "one of the top defensive coordinators in football" are enough to make any Wolverine melt. His 2009 defense finished third in the NFL, and his 2010 defense is currently at 10th overall in the NFL. The aforementioned "wrecking crew" also applies, as he coached some of the most prolific defenses in college football history.

Mattison has 14 years of coordinator experience, 12 of which have been at the collegiate level. Mattison led the Florida defense that absolutely shut down Ohio State in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, holding the Buckeyes to just 82 yards overall.

Mattison will have a tough job when he gets to Ann Arbor—the past three years have featured the worst defenses in Michigan's 131-year history as a football program.