Former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke was named the new defensive coordinator for the Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks had big expectations, as they always do with a program of their caliber, for the 2015 college football season. However, they underperformed early in the season and, largely, couldn’t overcome having one of the worst defenses in the history of the program and in the country on the year. Subsequently, Don Pellum was demoted to linebackers coach at the start of 2016. On Saturday afternoon, the Ducks named his replacement.
The Ducks have hired former Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke as the new defensive coordinator for the football team, per Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports:
Ex #Michigan HC Brady Hoke is #Oregon's new DC.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 16, 2016
Hoke was last seen in the college football ranks at the helm of the Michigan program, a position he held for four seasons before being fired after amassing only a 5-7 record in 2014, thus making way for Jim Harbaugh to take over the program.
Despite the fact that Hoke wasn’t able to bring the success to the Wolverines program that the school certainly expects, he was more than capable of coaching a great defense as his Wolverines team were always one of the best units in the country on that side of the ball during his tenure in Ann Arbor.
Oregon is one of those programs in college football that is always going to be bringing in the best talent in the country in terms of recruiting. Subsequently, it really is largely about having the right staff in place to coach those young players up. The Ducks certainly may have found that right guy in Hoke.