Defensive Coordinator D.J. Durkin Leaves UF For Michigan

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh knows having a great defense wins you a lot of games in the Big 10.

It appears he got the guy he wants to run the show.

Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin will leave Gainesville to join Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan. This will not be the first time the two have worked together.

“D.J. is one of the top young defensive coordinators in football, and I look forward to having him work with our student-athletes,” Harbaugh stated. “He will make an excellent addition to our staff.”

Durkin was apart of Harbaugh’s staff at Stanford and spent three years with the Cardinal before reuniting with his former boss, Urban Meyer, at Florida. 

“Reuniting with Jim at the University of Michigan is an opportunity that I could not pass up,” stated Durkin. “We had some great times working together at Stanford, and I look forward to producing great results at Michigan. I look forward to coaching in the Big Ten after growing up in that footprint. I am excited to return to the Midwest and recruit and teach some of the best and brightest young men in the country.”

The Ohio native coached a Top 20 defense in both years as Florida’s defensive coordinator. He will also be the linebacker’s coach at Michigan. 

Durkin was the Gators’ interim head coach for Florida’s 28-20 win over ECU in the Birmingham Bowl. He is known as one of the best up and coming defensive minds in college football and also known as a very dedicated recruiter.

According to Sports Illustrated, former Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison has been on the recruiting trail since Harbaugh was hired and will be assigned with a different role this upcoming season.

 

*Section Photo credit to Stacy Revere, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Kim Klement, USA Today Sports.

Cardale Jones Keeping it Loose Before Championship Game
Cardale Jones Keeping it Loose Before Championship Game