Mike DeBord obit

Mike DeBord, former Michigan football offensive coordinator, passed away

 

He was not on the list.

It wasn't that long ago that Mike DeBord was overseeing a Michigan football offense that was just three points away from making the national championship game.

The year was 2006, and DeBord was on his second stint with the Wolverines as the offensive coordinator. He got his start in Ann Arbor during the Gary Moeller era but continued into the Lloyd Carr era, and won the national championship as the team's OC in 1997. He left for the Central Michigan head coaching job but returned and overlapped for the entirety of the Chad Henne-Mike Hart-Jake Long offensive years.

DeBord left again following Carr's departure but even came back to Ann Arbor as an analyst in 2020 before being poached by Les Miles to be the Kansas OC in 2021.

According to The Detroit News' Angelique Chengelis, DeBord passed away.

A native of Indiana, DeBord was 69 years old and has had an extensive coaching career, with Ann Arbor encompassing the bulk of his time spent. He's also coached at Eastern Illinois, Ball State, Colorado State, Northwestern, the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Biographical details

Born            February 7, 1956

Muncie, Indiana, U.S.

Died     April 15, 2025 (aged 69)

Playing career

c. 1980            Manchester Spartans (IN)

Position(s)            Offensive lineman

Coaching career (HC unless noted)

1982–1983            Franklin Grizzlies (IN) (OL)

1984    Fort Hays State (OL)

1985–1986            Fort Hays State Tigers (OC/QB/WR)

1987–1988            Eastern Illinois Panthers (OL)

1988–1989            Ball State Cardinals (OL)

1990–1991            Colorado State Rams (OL)

1992            Northwestern (OL)

1993–1996            Michigan Wolverines (OL)

1997–1999            Michigan (OC)

2000–2003            Central Michigan Chippewas

2004–2005            Michigan (ST/RC)

2006–2007            Michigan (OC/TE)

2008    Seattle Seahawks (AOL)

2009    Seattle Seahawks (TE)

2010–2012            Chicago Bears (TE)

2015–2016            Tennessee  Volunteers (OC/QB)

2017–2018            Indiana Hoosiers (AHC/OC/TE)

2019    San Diego Fleet (OC)

2020            Michigan (OA)

2021    Kansas Jayhawks (OC/QB)

Administrative career (AD unless noted)

2013–2014            Michigan (sport admin)

Head coaching record

Overall 12–34

Accomplishments and honors

Awards

The Sporting News' National Assistant Coach of the Year (1997)

 

On February 2, 2010, the Chicago Bears announced DeBord as their new tight ends coach, after coming to terms for the 2010 season. DeBord was dismissed by new head coach Marc Trestman on January 17, 2013.