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Mike Zordich

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Mike Zordich
Central Michigan Chippewas
Position:Defensive backs coach
Personal information
Born: (1963-10-12) October 12, 1963 (age 61)
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Youngstown (OH) Chaney
College:Penn State
NFL draft:1986 / round: 9 / pick: 235
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:588
Interceptions:20
Sacks:6
FF / FR:6 / 11
Touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Michael Edward Zordich (born October 12, 1963) is a former American football defensive back and is a defensive backs coach for the Central Michigan. He played college football at Penn State. He was drafted in the ninth round (235th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.

He played 12 seasons as a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL) and has since become a coach, has also coached for Cardinal Mooney High School, the Philadelphia Eagles, Youngstown State, and Michigan.

College career

Zordich attended Chaney High School prior to enrolling at Penn State University. At Penn State, he was a four-year letterman and a starter at "hero".[1][2] As a senior, in 1985, he was selected as an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.[3] He was also a team co-captain.[4] He finished his career with 201 tackles and earned a B. S. in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management.[5]

Professional career

Zordich was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the ninth round (235 overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft.[6][7] He was released by the Chargers at the end of 1986 pre-season.[8][9] In April 1987, he was signed by the New York Jets.[10][11] During final cuts, he was waived by the Jets.[12][13] He was re-signed on September 15.[14] In 1987, he appeared in 10 games, primarily on special teams. He recorded eight tackles, and one sack.[15] In 1988, he appeared in 16 games. He recorded 10 tackles and one interception.[15]

In February 1989, Zordich was declared an unconditional free agent by the Jets.[16][17] In March, he was signed by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1989.[18][19] In 1989, he appeared in 16 games (seven starts). He recorded 60 tackles, one sack, and one interceptions.[15] In 1990, he appeared in 16 games. He recorded 27 tackles, one fumble recovery, and one interceptions.[15] In 1991, he started all 16 games. He recorded, a career-high, 87 tackles, as well as three fumble recoveries, and one interception.[15] In 1992, he started all 16 games. He recorded 61 tackles, and three interceptions.[15] In 1993, his final season in Phoenix, he appeared in 16 games (nine starts). He recorded 54 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception.[15]

In June 1994, Zordich signed with the Philadelphia Eagles,[20] signing a two-year $800,000 contract,[21] where he replaced Andre Waters who left Philadelphia to sign with the, then newly re-named, Arizona Cardinals. In 1994, Zordich started all 16 games. He recorded 51 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a career-high four interceptions.[15] In 1995, he started 15 games, missing one. He recorded 60 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles as well as two fumble recoveries, and one interception.[15] In 1996, he started all 16 games. He recorded 64 tackles, and four interceptions.[15] In 1997, he started all 16 games. He recorded 51 tackles, a career-high two sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interceptions.[15] In his final season, 1998, he started all 16 games. He recorded 55 tackles, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions.[15] After the season, his contract expired and he wasn't re-signed.[22] In 1999, he was replaced by Tim Hauck.[23]

After appearing in his first career game in 1987 with the Jets, Zordich missed just one game in his career.[7]

Career statistics

Season Tackles Pass defense
Year Team GP GS Solo. Asst. Total Sacks FF FR TD Int. Yds. TD
1987 NYJ 10 0 -- -- 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
1988 NYJ 16 0 -- -- 10 0 0 0 0 1 35 1
1989 PHX 16 7 -- -- 60 1 0 0 0 1 16 1
1990 PHX 16 0 -- -- 27 0 0 1 0 1 25 0
1991 PHX 16 16 -- -- 87 0 0 3 0 1 27 0
1992 PHX 16 16 -- -- 61 0 0 0 0 3 37 0
1993 PHX 16 9 -- -- 54 0 2 0 0 1 0 0
1994 PHI 16 16 24 27 51 1 2 3 0 4 39 1
1995 PHI 15 15 46 14 60 1 2 2 1 1 10 0
1996 PHI 16 16 32 32 64 0 0 0 0 4 54 0
1997 PHI 16 16 22 29 51 2 0 1 0 1 21 0
1998 PHI 16 16 27 28 55 0 0 1 0 2 18 0
Career 185 127 -- -- 588 6 6 11 1 20 282 3

Coaching career

In 2003, Zordich became a defensive assistant at Cardinal Mooney High School, he coached there for six seasons.[24] In 2009, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles as the team's defensive quality control coach, for two seasons.[25] In 2011, he was named the Eagles' safeties coach.[26][27][28] In 2014, he was named Youngstown State's safeties coach.[24] After the season, in January 2015, he was hired by the University of Michigan. Zordich was fired from Michigan on January 13, 2021 after six seasons as the defensive backs coach. [29]

Personal life

Zordich lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife Cynthia,[5] a photographer,[30]. His son Michael Jr. played running back for the Nittany Lions[31] and later the Carolina Panthers, and another son, Alex, played quarterback for the University at Buffalo, he also has a daughter, Aiden.[5]

References

  1. ^ Cialini, Joe (August 22, 1986). "Possible Complacency, Lions Loaded with Talent". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, Pennsylvania: UPI. p. 5. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  2. ^ "Penn State-Miami "Shootout In The Desert": 1986 College Football 'Super Bowl' Preview". Tyrone Daily Herald. Tyrone, Pennsylvania. December 31, 1986. p. 7. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  3. ^ "Two repeat as writers' selections", Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash, p. C2, November 27, 1985, retrieved June 25, 2013
  4. ^ "Bruised No. 3 Lions Feel They Lost to the Best". The Evening Times. Sayre, Pennsylvania: AP. January 3, 1986. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  5. ^ a b c "Michael Zordich Bio". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Palmer, Pete; Pullis, Ken; Lahman, Sean; Silverman, Matthew; Gillette, Gary (2006), The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia: First Edition, ESPN Books, pp. 755, 1428, ISBN 978-1-4027-4216-3
  8. ^ "Morris says Giants threaten him with season-ending move". The San Bernardino County Sun. Sun News Services. August 23, 1986. p. 44. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  9. ^ "Transactions". The Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. August 23, 1986. p. 11. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  10. ^ "In the district", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. 18, April 10, 1987, retrieved June 25, 2013
  11. ^ "Transactions". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. April 10, 1987. p. 12. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ "Times Scoreboard". The Kerrville Times. Kerrville, Texas. September 8, 1987. p. 14. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. ^ "Transactions". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. September 7, 1987. p. 16. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  14. ^ "Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. September 15, 1987. p. 26. Retrieved February 4, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Mike Zordich Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  16. ^ "1989 NFL Unprotected List". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. February 3, 1989. p. 38. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  17. ^ "NFL Free Agents". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. February 3, 1989. p. 26. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  18. ^ "Cardinals woo free agents", Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, p. 11A, March 8, 1989, retrieved June 25, 2013
  19. ^ "Transactions". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. March 3, 1989. p. 39. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  20. ^ "Zordich signs with Eagles", Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, p. 9A, June 30, 1994, retrieved June 25, 2013
  21. ^ "Eagles counting on Zordich and Jackson". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania: AP. July 25, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved February 24, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  22. ^ "NFL Free Agents". The Salina Journal. Salina, Kansas. February 13, 1999. p. 12. Retrieved February 25, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  23. ^ Patton, Steve (September 10, 1999), "Johnson brings in 'loaded' scheme", Reading Eagle, p. D15, retrieved June 25, 2013
  24. ^ a b Scalzo, Joe (February 23, 2014). "YSU set to add Zordich, Carter to coaching staff". Vindy.com. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  25. ^ Spadaro, Dave (October 25, 2009). "Where Are They Now: DB Michael Zordich". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  26. ^ "Transactions". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. February 8, 2011. p. 12. Retrieved February 25, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  27. ^ Adkins, Justin (February 7, 2011), "Eagles promote Zordich to safeties coach, Caldwell to linebackers coach", Philly Sports Central, retrieved June 25, 2013
  28. ^ Scalzo, Joe (April 26, 2013), "Zordich follows in father's path", The Vindicator, Youngstown, Ohio, retrieved June 25, 2013
  29. ^ "Reports: Mike Zordich not expected to return to U-M staff, former player being courted for role". January 13, 2021.
  30. ^ "Eagles Media Guide". Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  31. ^ Bodani, Frank (June 2, 2007), "Zordich Jr. follows father to Penn State", Evening Sun, archived from the original on February 5, 2012, retrieved June 25, 2013
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