Face off
Amanda Papke
No matter which paths they have taken throughout their college football career, CMU coach Mike DeBord and Ball State Head Coach Brady Hoke have ended at similar places.
They were together when DeBord was a graduate assistant and Hoke a player at BSU in the early 1980’s. They were together when DeBord was offensive coordinator and Hoke defensive line coach at Michigan in the mid 1990’s.
And they will be reunited again Saturday, when the two face off as opposing head coaches of MAC West rival schools.
“We’re going to do everything to get our teams ready, we’re going to play and afterwards, we’re still friends,” DeBord said. “I’m not putting my focus on Brady Hoke. I’m putting my focus on Ball State. It’s not the thing you want to do. But, it’s on the schedule, so we’re going to go out and play.”
The relationship between DeBord and Hoke is among the many intriguing storylines for the MAC opener. Central defensive coordinator Bob Bartolomeo coached at BSU for 10 years under Bill Lynch’s staff before coming to Mount Pleasant last spring.
DeBord said that while Bartolomeo will help with preperation, his knowledge of the current Cardinal squad is limited.
“Just him being able to talk about personnel is good,” DeBord said. But, they’ve changed all their schemes and personnel has changed. A lot of things can happen in a year, different kids can improve and step up.”
For DeBord, the game will represent a double homecoming, as the fourth-year coach was born in Muncie — the location of Saturday’s game. A throng of DeBord supporters will be among the crowd at Ball State Stadium.
“It’s something that we are aware of as players,” said senior wide receiver Willie Hill. “But, we can’t focus on it. We have to focus on preparing. But, it sure would be nice for Coach DeBord and Coach Bartolomeo to get a win.”
While DeBord admits players know his tie to Ball State, he said it has not been emphasized in practice.
“They’re aware,” DeBord said. “But, I don’t talk about it. They know where my focus is and what I want to do.”
Both DeBord and Hoke credit much of their opportunity to Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr. It was under Carr’s tutilage the two were able to capture a 1997 National Championship, and springboard themselves in a position to guide their own teams.
“I think it’s like going to get a Ph.D.,” Hoke said of Carr’s influence. “He had such an impact on Mike and myself on how you organize, how you motivate and how you practice. It’s one of those things that without the experience, I wouldn’t be the coach I am today.”
DeBord said he echoes Hoke’s feelings that Carr is one of the top teachers and coaches in the college game.
“There is no doubt that Lloyd is truly the best football coach in the country,” DeBord said. “He probably isn’t recognized as much because Lloyd doesn’t bring attention to himself, he brings it to the Michigan program. If you look at his record and if you have worked for him, you will realize he is one of the best around.”
The tie with both coaches to Carr is noticed in their scheme. While they divert from Michigan’s gap-blocking scheme in the running game to that of a zone scheme, the Chippewas still use U-M’s passing scheme.
And when Hoke became BSU coach, he installed a defensive package to that of Michigan.
“He brought that in and he feels comfortable with it,” DeBord said. “They’re executing it very well.”
DeBord was able to coach against his mentor, when the Chippewas opened the season against Michigan in Ann Arbor.
With the Ball State game looming, for the second time in four games, DeBord once again finds himself pitted against a friend. However, do not expect either coach to forget which tunnel to run out of when kickoff arrives.
“I’d rather take vacation time and stuff with them than go play against them,” DeBord said. “I know Brady is approaching the game like I am. He knows how much respect I have for him and what he’s doing at Ball State. But, it’s a big game with the start of MAC season. We’re both preparing our teams to win.”
The DeBord/Hoke Timeline
- 1956 — Mike DeBord born in Muncie, Indiana
- 1980 — DeBord becomes a graduate assistant at Ball State, located in Muncie
- 1980 — Senior Brady Hoke leads the Ball State defense with 150 tackles
- 1981 — DeBord earns Master's’ degree from Ball State
- 1989 — DeBord coaches the offensive line at Ball State
- 1992 — DeBord starts coaching at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor
- 1993 — Bart Bartolomeo becomes Assistant Coach at Ball State
- 1995 — Hoke begins coaching at Michigan
- 2000 — DeBord leaves Michigan to become Head Coach at CMU
- 2003 — Hoke becomes Head Coach at Ball State
- 2003 — Bartolomeo leaves Ball State for the defensive coordinator position at CMU
- Saturday — Hoke and DeBord meet for the first time as opposing head coaches
