Brady Hoke is back in the game, and at a very un-Brady Hoke-ian destination.
Oregon announced the former Ball State, San Diego State and Michigan head coach as its new defensive coordinator on Saturday. Hoke replaces Don Pellum who, of course, remains on staff as linebackers coach. The Ducks' release does not specify a position Hoke will oversee, but defensive line is a good bet.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Hoke to the Oregon family," Helfrich said. "He's passionate, knowledgeable and tough, and has an outstanding track record of success from a defensive standpoint."
Hoke experienced fantastic and near-instant success as a head coach -- taking Ball State from 4-8 to 12-1 in six season, San Diego State from 4-8 to 9-4 in two, and then rocketing Michigan to 11-2 in his first season taking over for Rich Rodriguez. But the Wolverines' win totals fell from his 2011 peak, down to eight in 2012, seven in 2013 and, finally, to five in 2014.
Hoke spent the 2015 season as a guest analyst for SiriusXM College Sports Radio.
While two straight cycles have passed without a nibble on the head coaching market, Hoke's ability as a recruiter and a tactician have never been in question. Oregon noted Hoke took Michigan's defense from 110th nationally in the year prior to his arrival to seventh in 2014, cutting nearly 140 yards a game off their total defense average. He also oversaw two top-5 recruiting hauls while in Ann Arbor.
However, Hoke will have to adapt -- quickly -- to a much quicker pace than what he saw at Michigan. Oregon defended 80.5 plays per game in 2015. Hoke's defenses saw 65 or fewer plays per game in three of his four seasons at Michigan.
Prior to landing his first head job in 2003, Hoke coached defensive lines at Grand Valley State, Western Michigan, Oregon State (where he was a Civil War rival with many of Oregon's current assistants, from 1989-94) and Michigan, also spent three seasons coaching linebackers at Toledo.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.