Ole Miss Names MacIntyre As DC

OXFORD, Miss. (Ole Miss Athletics) – Mike MacIntyre, a two-time national coach of the year and coaching veteran with nearly three decades of experience, has been named Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator, head coach Matt Luke announced Monday.

MacIntyre
spent the last six seasons as head coach at the University of Colorado,
earning 2016 consensus national coach of the year honors after leading
the Buffaloes to their first 10-win season in 15 years. He also received
2009 national assistant coach of the year accolades while defensive
coordinator at Duke University, where he served alongside Luke.

“I
could not be more excited to add Mike’s leadership, values and
high-level experience to our program,” Luke said. “Throughout our years
together at Duke and Ole Miss, I have seen firsthand his ability to turn
around a defense, and I look forward to seeing his veteran influence on
that side of the ball. Mike is also a tremendous recruiter and should
make an immediate impact as we assemble this important class.”

A
29-year coaching veteran, including five seasons in the NFL, MacIntyre
returns to Oxford for his second stint with the Ole Miss program after
working on the Rebels’ staff with Luke from 1999-2002.

“I
am honored and excited to have this opportunity,” MacIntyre said. “From
our time working together, I have a lot of respect for Matt as a coach
and as a man. The future is bright under his leadership, and I look
forward to working with the players to help take this program to the
next level.

“Oxford
is a special place. My family and I loved our time there, and we can’t
wait to be back and part of this wonderful community.”

Turnarounds
have been a trademark of MacIntyre’s career. In 2013, he took over a
Colorado team that was coming off a 1-11 season, and four years later,
directed the Buffs to a 10-3 mark and their first appearance in the
Pac-12 Championship Game.

Colorado
was tied with five others for most improved in the nation overall and
the most improved all-time in Pac-12 league games in 2016. The Buffaloes
became just the ninth team among Power-5 schools since 1972 to win 10
or more games after finishing the previous season with four or fewer
wins.

In
2015, the CU defense improved by as many as 50 spots nationally in many
major defensive areas. The biggest jump came in points allowed per
game, slicing off 11.5 from the previous year, the fifth-best
improvement in all of FBS.

The
turnaround at Colorado came just a few years after MacIntyre similarly
resuscitated a San Jose State team from a 1-12 record in 2010 to one
that finished 10-2 in 2012 and was nationally ranked and garnered AFCA
National Coach of the Year distinction for MacIntyre. His SJSU teams won
12 of his final 14 games there.

In
recording their first 10-win season since 1987, the Spartans did it
with a defense that ranked among the national leaders in many
statistical categories. The opportunistic Spartans were the co-national
leaders with 20 fumble recoveries and were tied for fourth in turnovers
gained (33).

MacIntyre
arrived at San Jose State after two years as the defensive coordinator
at Duke, where he was reunited with David Cutcliffe, who was the Rebels’
coach during MacIntyre’s first go-around at Ole Miss.

In
his first season in Durham (2008), the Blue Devils allowed 67.4 fewer
yards and 9.8 fewer points per game than the previous season. The
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) named MacIntyre its 2009
FBS Assistant Coach of the Year as the Blue Devil defenses were among
Duke’s best statistically over a 20-year span.

Prior
to returning to college ball, MacIntyre spent five seasons in the
National Football League with the New York Jets (2007) and Dallas
Cowboys (2003-06) coaching defensive backs. Working for legendary coach
Bill Parcells, the Cowboys returned to the NFL playoffs in 2003 and
again in 2006 after missing out on postseason competition during the
2000 through 2002 seasons.

MacIntyre
served as Ole Miss’ secondary coach during the 2001 and 2002 seasons
after spending his first two years in Oxford as the wide receivers
coach. The Rebels posted a 29-19 record in that time with bowl
appearances in the 1999 and 2002 Independence Bowls and the 2000 Music
City Bowl. The 2001 Rebels ranked fifth nationally in pass defense,
allowing just 161.3 yards per game.

At
Ole Miss, among his recruits were two high profile student-athletes,
quarterback Eli Manning and linebacker Patrick Willis. He has mentored
many current and former NFL players including recently retired former
Dallas and Cincinnati safety Roy Williams, a five-time Pro Bowl player.

He
began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of
Georgia, working two years (1990-91) in that capacity. He then coached
one year as the defensive coordinator at Davidson (1992), four years at
Tennessee Martin (1993-96) and two seasons at Temple (1997-98).

A
1989 graduate of Georgia Tech, he lettered twice (1987-88) at free
safety and punt returner for legendary head coach Bobby Ross. Prior to
becoming a Yellow Jacket, MacIntyre played two seasons (1984-85) at
Vanderbilt for his father, George, the head coach of the Commodores from
1979-85. The elder MacIntyre also served as Ole Miss’ offensive
coordinator in 1978 prior to taking over the reins at Vanderbilt.

MacIntyre
earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Georgia Tech and
his master’s in education with an emphasis on sports management from
Georgia in 1991.

MacIntyre, 53, and his wife Trisha have three children: Jennifer, Jay and Jonston.

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MACINTYRE COACHING CAREER

1990-91: Georgia (GA)

1992: Davidson (DC)

1992-93: Plattling Black Hawks (AHC/OC)

1993-96: UT Martin (DC)

1997-98: Temple (DC)

1999-2000: Ole Miss (WRs)

2001-02: Ole Miss (DBs)

2003-2006: Dallas Cowboys (DBs)

2007: New York Jets (DBs)

2008-09: Duke (DC)

2010-12: San Jose State (HC)

2013-18: Colorado (HC)