Brady Hoke lands his dream job as coach of the Michigan football program
Brady Hoke answered the call to be the 19th head football coach in Michigan history.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
The phone call Brady Hoke had waited a lifetime for came Tuesday in the early morning.
It went unanswered.
Ignoring a call from the prospective boss at his dream job wasn’t something in his playbook, but the 52-year-old football coach had to do this right. …
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon had completed a five-city, six-day search for a new football coach and reached a decision. Now, if he could only get his guy on the phone.
“I spent the better part of an hour-and-a-half playing ‘Where’s Brady?’ Brandon said Wednesday. …
Hoke’s wife, Laura, had gone swimming at the YMCA near their house in San Diego. After she finished, she decided to take some extra time in the hot tub to relax after a hectic few days.
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke enters the Junge Family Champions Center with his wife, Laura, and daughter, Kelly.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Her husband seemed on the verge of landing the dream job at Michigan, a school they both had rooted for since their days as seventh graders at John F. Kennedy Junior High School in Dayton, Ohio. She was stressed.
“I needed to regroup,” she said. “I took some extra time, and didn’t get home when I usually do.” …
Hoke sat on the other end of the phone all along.
His wife, his grade-school sweetheart, had been there beside him through coaching stops at Yorktown High School, Grand Valley State, Toledo, Western Michigan, Michigan, Ball State and most recently San Diego State.
She was going to be there for this phone call, he thought. … 8:45 a.m., Pacific Time. Laura Hoke belatedly returned from the gym. The phone rang again. It was Brandon again. This time, Brady Hoke lunged for the chance to answer it. Brandon offered him a six-year contract to be Michigan’s next football coach. He accepted.
“Immediately,” said Hoke, who told Brandon this was his dream job within the first four seconds of his formal interview. “We would have walked here from San Diego. Getting up the Rockies would have been a little bit difficult, but we could have figured that out.” …
They dashed around San Diego for the better part of Tuesday preparing for their new life in Ann Arbor. They flew to Scottsdale, Ariz., where they picked up their daughter, Kelly. …
Back in Ann Arbor, Brandon had called a meeting with players for Tuesday afternoon. The Wolverines have been listless the past seven days, wondering along with everyone else who would be their next coach.
They thought Brandon would update them on the search.
“I thought he would maybe tell us what direction it was going, and the top candidates,” wide receiver Darryl Stonum said. “I didn’t know he was going to announce the coach. That was a surprise.” …
Sometime around 2 a.m., the Hoke family touched down at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti and they spend the night at Brandon’s house. Hoke caught up on a voicemail stuffed to capacity.
Outsiders viewed the hire with curiosity - a career 47-50 coach who had three winning seasons in eight as a head coach in Muncie, Ind., and San Diego - not exactly football hotbeds.
But those players who called and the players Tuesday night and the ones who overflowed the Junge Family Champions Center on Wednesday vowed that Michigan had done the right thing in side-stepping higher-profile candidates.
They not only knew about the 1997 national championship ring and the Big Ten titles from his eight years as the defensive line coach under Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr. They knew of his intensity.
“When I talked to Mr. Brandon about the coaching position, I told him if I was picking, my number one guy would be Brady Hoke,” said former Michigan offensive tackle Jon Jansen, one of two dozen or so former Wolverines on hand.
Asked if Hoke would add to his jewelry collection here, Jansen said, “No question, no question. He’ll win Big Ten championships. He’ll win national championships.” …
Before he does anything else on day one, Hoke is adamant that he begins his tenure by addressing the team. They meet for a luncheon at Michigan Stadium.
He speaks with great passion about the Wolverines, their history and traditions. He makes them believe again, in a team that endured a tumultuous season that resulted in Rich Rodriguez’s dismissal.
“He’s got a whole aura about him, know what I’m saying,” left tackle Taylor Lewan said. “The way he walks into a room, and he’s truly here to coach football, teach us to win games and win championships. That’s what I’m here to do.” …
Dozens of television cameras are set up across the length of the floor in the Junge Family Champions Center. Seven rows of chairs are stuffed to capacity with reporters.
At 1 p.m., Hoke was introduced as the 19th coach in Wolverines history.
He addresses topics ranging from the rift in the Michigan family to the interview process to Denard Robinson’s future to the rivalry with a school based in Columbus, Ohio that he refuses to name.
“It is the most important game on the schedule,” Hoke said of the annual Ohio State game. “It. Is. The. Most. Important. Game. On. That. Schedule.”
He bangs the podium with each word. …
Behind the rows of reporters and legion of television cameras, about 40 current members of the Michigan football team stood with two dozen former Wolverines, former friends from Ann Arbor and stops beyond.
“We’re going to respect the tradition of the University of Michigan and its football program,” Hoke said. “We’re excited to be here.”
It appears he has concluded his opening remarks. But he looks at the assembled crowd containing so many familiar faces and continues.
“One other thank you to the thousands of players we’ve been able to touch,” he said.
He pauses. For the only time of the afternoon, Brady Hoke is speechless. He chokes up. He completes his remarks.
“As a family,” he said.
Pete Bigelow covers the Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2551, via e-mail at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.
Comments
BlueGator
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
Kudos to Lon Horwedel for that topmost photo of Hoke. What a tremendous "emotion" image. I wonder what was going trough Brady's mind just at instant? Well done, Lon.
BlueGator
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
Kudos to Lon Horwedel for that topmost photo of Hoke. What a tremendous "emotion" image. I wonder what was going trough Brady's mind just at instant? Well done, Lon.
Bob Needham
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
(Comment removed due to personal attacks, sentences in all caps and general incoherence)
Bob Needham
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
(Comment removed due to personal attacks, sentences in all caps and general incoherence)
kidmich
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
XTR says... "It is easy to go over 3-9, 5-7 and 7-5 the first three years." Drugs are surely a blight on society. It makes for all kinds of irrational thought, even hallucinations. Please XTR, just say NO!
kidmich
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
XTR says... "It is easy to go over 3-9, 5-7 and 7-5 the first three years." Drugs are surely a blight on society. It makes for all kinds of irrational thought, even hallucinations. Please XTR, just say NO!
kidmich
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
shane smith says... "Just support this guy all you can.Because not to many people wanted this job,contray to what you people think.It was almost a mid-major job.You are middle of the pack pay scale in the Big Ten.If this guy doesn't make it your done.You people better wake up quit singing hail to the Victors fight song.Those you stay will be Champions BS.You up against a wall and don't know it or understand it.I like Michigan very Much,but you have had terrible leaders at the top.I mean AD and President.Stop and think about this,you hired a Coach with a losing record.GOOD LUCK.THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING YOU." shane, put down the crack pipe! Come back to reality, I'm sure there are plenty of coaches who would jump, at the chance, to coach Michigan. What you probably heard is that Michigan narrowed their search down to three possible candidates. Those three candidates were Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles and Brady Hoke. Harbaugh obviously took a NFL job and Miles decided to remain at his very successful job, at LSU. Just because Michigan narrowed the field down to three candidates, doesn't mean there weren't numerous coaching candidates, in the Pro and College ranks, who would jump at the chance, to coach Michigan. And shane, always remember RIF(reading is fundamental).
kidmich
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
shane smith says... "Just support this guy all you can.Because not to many people wanted this job,contray to what you people think.It was almost a mid-major job.You are middle of the pack pay scale in the Big Ten.If this guy doesn't make it your done.You people better wake up quit singing hail to the Victors fight song.Those you stay will be Champions BS.You up against a wall and don't know it or understand it.I like Michigan very Much,but you have had terrible leaders at the top.I mean AD and President.Stop and think about this,you hired a Coach with a losing record.GOOD LUCK.THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING YOU." shane, put down the crack pipe! Come back to reality, I'm sure there are plenty of coaches who would jump, at the chance, to coach Michigan. What you probably heard is that Michigan narrowed their search down to three possible candidates. Those three candidates were Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles and Brady Hoke. Harbaugh obviously took a NFL job and Miles decided to remain at his very successful job, at LSU. Just because Michigan narrowed the field down to three candidates, doesn't mean there weren't numerous coaching candidates, in the Pro and College ranks, who would jump at the chance, to coach Michigan. And shane, always remember RIF(reading is fundamental).
kidmich
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
I won't enter the debate on whether Mr. Hoke will be the answer to Michigan's prayers. But just for curiosity sake, what are the REALISTIC expectations for Mr. Hoke, in his first season, at Michigan? I personally feel 6-6 is realistic, anything above that would be tremendous. As long as Michigan wins those games, with a decent defense. I hated knowing that Michigan would beat the likes of Indiana, but have NO chance beating Ohio State. Last year's Illinois game was exciting, just like the basketball game it was, but even winning that shootout, I knew Michigan would not beat Wisconsin or Ohio State. And I definitely knew they would not beat Mississippi State, especially with that defense. Sure I held out hope, in every game Michigan played, but it quickly became obvious, against quality opponents, they had no chance. I always think it is so simple, teams win championships with defense. Bo obviously knew it. OSU had the best offense, in football, in 1969, but Bo put out a better defense, result 24-12 victory, on the previously undefeated, number one team in the nation. GO BLUE!
missionbrazil
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.
Portage "Our coach is experienced but not in this capacity. We have to wait and see what he can do in this capacity." BH has 28 years of college coaching experience, including 1 year at UM as associate HC and including 8 as a HC. The man has alot more experience than many others who have taken over other programs, including the ones Don AZ mentioned (Bo, Tressel, Meyer, Chizek, Kelly,...). And you can add many more names, including these guys who took over major programs and had 0 experience as a HC: * Bo Pelini - Nebraska * Bob Stoops - Oklahoma * Gary Patterson - TCU * Chris Petersen - Boise State Don AZ "One wish -- get tough. That's the key." One thing I read in some reports coming out of the San Diego media and rivals was that in the 2 years BH was at SDSU people were saying that his teams were noticably tougher, and that 2010 was the 1st year in many years that the team had a swagger.
shane smith
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 10:41 a.m.
Just support this guy all you can.Because not to many people wanted this job,contray to what you people think.It was almost a mid-major job.You are middle of the pack pay scale in the Big Ten.If this guy doesn't make it your done.You people better wake up quit singing hail to the Victors fight song.Those you stay will be Champions BS.You up against a wall and don't know it or understand it.I like Michigan very Much,but you have had terrible leaders at the top.I mean AD and President.Stop and think about this,you hired a Coach with a losing record.GOOD LUCK.THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING YOU.
Blu-n-Tpa
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 8:21 a.m.
GOOOD MOOORNING MICHIGAN FANS!! There's a new sheriff in town and he's taking names and going to kick some butts. I certainly share the emotional uplift of this COACH and this hire. COACH HOKE is NO JOKE and this is exactly what Michigan football needed. It's not going to be easy and there will be disappointments along the way. But, it wont be because the guys aren't ready, or the team doens't have the right players for a particular scheme. This man is a football COACH, not a runway model or a GQ talking head of sports. I have to agree with tater (I know,but its a new day in the WolverineNation so I'm going with it.) there isn't much "quiet" about how COACH Hoke in the context of UM football. PnLk I appreciate you're not raining on our parade. And I think I understand you being guarded in your comments as posted here. So let's move together now that Michigan has a real football COACH who knows the difference between Big Ten football and what's his name's two-hand touch. Go Blue!
XTR
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
One thing this hiring did that the former regime did not is to erase all of the negativity within Schembechler hall. This time many former players and former coaches approved of this hiring and everything within Michigan football is on a positive note. BH or any coach for that matter will work so hard to beat the negative records set by the RR regime. It is easy to go over 3-9, 5-7 and 7-5 the first three years.
Ben
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:13 p.m.
Watching the presser gave me goose bumps. This guy truly loves the school. Accepting a job with ZERO real negotiation says a lot. We have a coach who would have "walked here" if he had to. That in itself speaks volumes. I got the impression the man is a selfless coach and teacher. He presented a man with emotion and a tough approach to the game. I like his directness, there is no fancy language with this man. He's what everyone says.. a Michigan man! GO BLUE! Watch out tOSU, big Blue is back in town!
Pete Warburton
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 10:39 p.m.
I just can not wait to do the "Hokey Pokey" with 112,000 fellow fans at the first halftime show of 2011. Go Blue
jalittle12
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
I like the hire, alot! I was also a little skeptical at first, but hearing from all the older players and older coaches puts me at ease. Hoke is NOT polished. He won't dazzle you, but that's why I like him. Seems like a football coach to me. He is likable, but NOT soft. His overall record is not stellar, but put that into perspective. Ball St and San Diego St were both a joke when he arrived. He made them relevant. He CAN recruit given time, loves his players, is a tough, hard nosed, no nonsense type of guy. Seems like he will be able to adapt his style to the players also. As Lorain brought up, The BIG question will be his coordinators/staff, and how they come in here and recruit/rally the troops. The head coach is only as good as the coaches he brings in. Good luck Hoke and welcome aboard. Go Blue!
Lemansblue
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
I really like this hire he gets it about MI football. Great day to be a wolverine!
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
Lorain, I think I understand what your trying to say? It's important to rationalize that the past is past. Our hopes and dreams now lie with Brady Hoke and that said, I wish him the best. I really can't project our future with Brady Hoke except to wish him the best.
DonAZ
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
@PortageLkBlu Maybe. Time will tell. Your boy RR had his time. And failed. And I don't want hear a damn thing about how RR should have had more time. That topic has been beat to death. He had his time, showed absolutely no capacity for improvement where and when it matters. But... to your point. First, Brady Hoke has been a head coach. He is well aware of what that entails. Second, your next rebuttal will be, "but not at Michigan!" As a statement of fact, true enough. Do you want me to start naming head coaches who've moved from second-tier schools into top-tier head coaches and had success almost immediately? o We'll start with Bo Schembechler, who came from Miami of Ohio after serving many years as an assistant coach. o Need I remind you of Jim Tressel, who came from Youngstown State and won the BCS national championship his second year. And he came in to rescue a stalled program. o Urban Meyer, who went from Utah -- I'll admit above MAC, but certainly not top-tier -- and led Florida to the very height. o Oh gosh, Gene Chizik who was a losing head coach at Iowa State. But Auburn saw the potential and rolled the dice. Result? Well, BCS National Champions. o Chip Kelly at Oregon. Previously at New Hampshire, then OC at Oregon, then... well, you see what happened. o Then of course there's Jim Harbaugh who coached nobody San Diego to considerable success before taking over for Stanford. Then leading the Cardinals to success, then going to NFL to make more money than you or I combined will make in our lifetimes. o And I'll leave you with this -- Brian Kelly of Notre Dame. Sufficient HC experience prior to ND (as does Hoke have), but at a lower level. Watch out for Notre Dame in 2011. Not yet BCS contender, but they'll do damage. Even ESPN has them in their top 25 for next year. So... the idea that a coach has to come from a big name, long-time HC position just doesn't fly. In fact, in most cases such people do not succeed.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
Mgoblue isn't that the point? Our coach is experienced but not in this capacity. We have to wait and see what he can do in this capacity. I wish our new coach the best but, we have to wait and see.
Lorain Steelmen
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
As head coach, Brady Hoke must transfer his intensity to the assistant coaches and to the players. As Woody used to say, and as Bo, his student, used to say, 'You either get better everyday, or you get worse everyday.' It is a life long commitment to Michigan, and what Michigan stands for. So here it is....if Brady Hoke truly LOVES, Michigan, and I think he does, then this is NOT a job, but a PASSION. When you are involved with a passion, you FIND A WAY, to make your mark. It isn't about resumes, it's about COMMITMENT. I think Hoke will be successful in reaching out to the kids on this team, now, and to the recruits, who choose Michigan over the next several years. They can tell a phoney from the real deal. After listening to the tape of the presser tonight, I am excited about Michigan, again, for the first time since 2006, and consistently, since about 2001, when we lost that 'edge'! I have missed the physical intensity of 'the team'. Fellow Wolverines, I think it's back, and we have a few IOU's to settle, in East Lansing and Columbus. I think right now, Bo would be getting exited too...except as Brady mentioned, 'Hoke, get that Steeele to hit a little lower, this D-Line isn't tough enough!' Wow,I miss the 'old man'. Welcome home Brady....Those that stay, WILL be champions!
mgobluealways
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
Brady Hoke was not the Defensive Coordinator for the 97 team. Jim Hermann was. Hoke was the Defensive Line Coach.
David Briegel
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
Brady Hoke has been a head coach and improved his teams every year. Go Brady. GO BLUE!!
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
@donaz good thoughts but the point is not other coaches it's Brady Hoke. Brady was involved as an assistant with a great defense at Mich. but Brady was not the head coach. Whether you like it or not he was not the head coach and that is the difference. To be a head coach at a school like Mich. is a whole different ball game. You are not relagated to a specific job but rather the overall job. That is a much different than a position coach. We will have to wait to see if he is up to the task.
DonAZ
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
@SalineDeon -- First -- uber-cool screen name... LOL Second -- Amen! The adults have returned.
SalineDeon
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.
Brady Hoke does indeed have a good resume. Michigan defensive coordinator for the national championship team. As head coach resurrected the Ball State to a 21-1 record in 2008 and did the same for San Diego State in 2010 with a 9-4 record and bowl win. But most importantly, he understands and loves the University of Michigan and will not embarrass us as Rich Rod did. For those nervous and wanting a "big name" please read the Dan Wetzel article in Yahoo Sports. He says quote.".....Jim Tressel was Ohio States third or fourth choice out of I-AA Youngstown State, Buckeye fans panicked that he wouldnt be ready for the big-time. USC wanted nothing to do with Pete Carroll, fired NFL guy with virtually no NCAA experience, until everyone else said no. Bob Stoops was a mostly anonymous assistant. Chip Kelly too. Frank Beamer was a guy coming off consecutive seven-win seasons at Murray State when Va Tech took him. Auburns Gene Chizik had just finished up a 2-10 campaign at Iowa State when Auburn hired him. He got booed getting off the plane......" unquote. We are in good, steady, and tough hands.
DonAZ
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
I'm feeling better and better about this. A marquis coach might not have been the right thing (thought I would have welcomed Harbaugh with open arms). One wish -- get tough. That's the key. That does not mean slow and plodding; that does not mean the players are worn down to a nub; that does not mean "three yards and a cloud of dust". It means this -- a refocus on the value of fundamentals first and flash second. It means getting the players to take pride in hard work, ball-busting practices, and physicality at the point of contact. Paraphrasing Full Metal Jacket: "Your heart belongs to Jesus, but your ass belongs to Michigan football." Hoke does that, and those who stay will be champions.
riverraisin
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
psaume23... You can say that again!! lol
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
Let's all be real, the new coach doesn't exactly bring a great resume, I would say at best, decent. We all know what is at stake here, is he a great recruiter, only time will tell. Should we be excited, absolutely.
psaume23
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:46 p.m.
Congratulations and welcome back to a great town and university!
psaume23
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
Congratulations and welcome back to a great town and great university!