Carr shuffles coaching staff

A game of musical coaches was played at Schembechler Hall on Feb. 13, and when it was over, Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr announced that one coach had found himself a new school and three others had gained new job titles.

And there might be more to come.

"Anytime you make coaching changes, you have to analyze your strengths," Carr said in a news conference. "That's what we've done."

Mike DeBord, assistant head coach and interior offensive line coach the past two seasons, is now offensive coordinator, replacing new assistant head coach Fred Jackson.

DeBord, who turned down an offer in December to be head coach at Western Michigan University, will also coach tight ends and tackles, because former offensive line coach Bobby Morrison has been moved to special teams. Morrison may also coach an offensive line position, but Carr said he is hoping to find someone else.

"We still might have one move to make," Carr said.

Terry Malone, a Detroit native, has been hired to replace DeBord as interior offensive line coach. He was offensive line coach for Dan Henning at Boston College in 1996 and had accepted the offensive line position at Maryland in December.

But the decision to come to Michigan was easy, he said. Malone graduated from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1978 and served as an assistant at Bowling Green from 1986-95.

"If it had been any other place, I couldn't have left (Maryland)," said Malone, glancing down at his gold watch with the Mid-American Conference logo on its face.

"This is for the two championships we won at BG. I'm looking forward to replacing it as soon as I can."

Becoming offensive coordinator shouldn't be a shock to DeBord. He has been deeply involved with the offense, working with tackles and tight ends and often helping Jackson call running plays.

He said his offensive philosophy won't be too novel. He wants to establish the running game, score inside the 20-yard line, and discipline an offense that turned over the ball 25 times last season.

"We need to be able to run the ball to compete," DeBord said. "Our red-zone attack is very important, too, and everybody knows it.

"I enjoyed watching what Green Bay did this year, their blocking schemes, back sets. Brett Favre makes plays, but they really know how to control the football. They're a ball-control team, and we have to be, too."

As for Jackson, Carr said his new job will help him become a head coach.

"Fred will have a lot more administrative responsibilities, such as discipline and eligibility concerns," Carr said. "He is tremendously well-respected by players and staff, and he will still have an impact on the offense."

Morrison, a former linebackers coach, was rumored to be a candidate to replace Jim Herrmann on defense.

Herrmann was promoted from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator after Greg Mattison left in December to become defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, leaving a position open.

But Carr said Morrison has a "great love for special teams," the Wolverines need a lot of work in that area, and that another defensive coach isnŐt needed.

"We have had the luxury to have two defensive coaches in the past," Carr said. "This will not be a problem."

Michigan Football: Facts and Figures
The Michigan football team boasts:
* More wins than any other Division 1-A collegiate football program.
* The second-best winning percentage in college football history.
* A string of 22 consecutive bowl games.
* A total of 28 post-season appearances.
* A record 37 Big Ten football championships.
* Five consecutive conference titles through 1992.
* More Rose Bowl appearances than any other Big Ten team.
* The nation's highest total attendance every year since 1974.
* College football's single-game attendance record of 106, 867.
-- Compiled from the 1996 Michigan football media guide.

09-03-97