Football
.jpg&width=180&height=270&type=webp)
- Title:
- Linebackers Coach
- Email:
- mmutz@tulane.edu
- Hometown:
- San Antonio, Texas
| PROFILE Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Wife: Melissa Child: Charles Lucas EDUCATION Bachelor’s – Colorado Mesa, 1997 Master’s – Southern Illinois, 2000 COACHING EXPERIENCE 1998-2000, Southern Illinois 2001-03, Fort Scott CC (Kansas) (DL/ST) 2004-05, Sam Houston State (DL) 2006-07, Missouri Southern State (DB) 2008-09, Missouri Southern State (ST) 2010-11, Missouri Southern State (DC/DB) 2012, Blinn College (DC) 2013, Sam Houston State (DB) 2014-15, Georgia Southern (LB) 2016-Present, Tulane (LB) POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE (5) 2020 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl - Tulane 2018 AutoNation Cure Bowl - Tulane 2015 GoDaddy Bowl - Georgia Southern 2013 NCAA Playoffs Sam - Houston State 2004 NCAA Playoffs Sam - Houston State |
Michael Mutz is in his seventh season as the linebackers coach for the Green Wave in 2022.
Under Mutz, the Green Wave linebackers proved again to be the core of the defense with three of the five leading tacklers coming from his group in 2021.
Mutz’s linebackers proved to be a key part to the Green Wave defense in 2020, as the unit combined for 309 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
As a team, Tulane averaged 8.4 tackles for loss per game which led the American Athletic Conference and ranked sixth nationally, while the Green Wave’s 3.1 sacks per game also led the league and ranked 13th overall.
Following the season, Nick Anderson earned Third Team All-America honors by Pro Football Focus. In addition, Dorian Williams earned Second Team All-AAC honors after he led the team in tackles.
In 2019, Tulane’s linebackers logged 196 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Lawrence Graham ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and second with 7.5 tackles for loss. Tulane ranked fourth in the AAC in total defense.
Mutz’s linebackers proved to be a cornerstone for the Green Wave’s 2018 defense unit as they helped Tulane rank third in the American Athletic Conference in total defense.
In 2018, Tulane linebackers totaled 180 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
In addition, three of Tulane’s top four tacklers were linebackers. Zachery Harris led all Green Wave players with 95 tackles. He also recorded 12.5 tackles for loss and three sacks en route to earning Second Team All-AAC honors.
In 2017, Mutz’s linebackers played a key role in helping Tulane become The American’s No. 1 defense in the red zone. In addition, Tulane linebackers accounted for 180 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Under Mutz’s direction, Rae Juan Marbley led the team in total tackles (96) and tackles for loss (9.5) en route to earning Second Team All-AAC honors.
In his first season at Tulane, he coached future NFL player Nico Marley to standout senior season that earned him first-team postseason honors from the American Athletic Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Mutz has been on the staff with head coach Willie Fritz since the 2013 season. Prior to Tulane, Mutz spent two seasons (2015-16) at Georgia Southern, where he helped the Eagles to a two-year overall record of 18-7, a combined Sun Belt Conference mark of 14-2, a GoDaddy.com Bowl Championship and a Sun Belt Championship.
In 2015, his final season at Georgia Southern, Mutz helped guide Georgia Southern to a 9-4 overall record and the school’s first win in its inaugural bowl game with a 58-27 win over Bowling Green in the 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl.
In his first season with the Eagles, Georgia Southern won the 2014 Sun Belt Championship as the Eagles’ made their debut in the FBS. He coached Edwin Jackson, who was a first-team All-Sun Belt honoree and signed a free agent NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals. Jackson was also selected to the Medal of Honor Bowl All-Star Game roster. Jackson led the Eagles with 100 total tackles while fellow linebacker made 65 stops and led the team with eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
Jackson was one of four future NFL players Mutz coached at Georgia Southern, including Antwoine Williams, Ironhead Gallon and Marcus Eligwe.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Mutz coached the Bearkat cornerbacks during the 2013 season at Sam Houston State with Bookie Sneed earning first team All-Southland Conference and Sports Network All-America third-team honors. Sneed finished his career ranked in the Sam Houston State top-10 for interceptions with while De’Antrey Loche tied the single-season mark for interception returns for touchdowns with three.From San Antonio, Texas, Mutz spent three years as a defensive coordinator, two at Missouri Southern State and one at Blinn College before returning to the Sam Houston State program under Fritz.
Mutz’s MSSU Lions ranked at the top of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in total defense and rush defense in 2010, and held opponent defenses to the lowest first downs total in the league. The following season, MSSU posted solid numbers in the conference and ranked eighth nationally in both tackles for loss and sacks.
All-Americans on the Lions’ defense included defensive tackle Brandon Williams, Missouri Southern State’s career sacks leader, who was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Williams was among the 16 MIAA All-Conference team members coached by Mutz during his tenure there, along with two Lions who were honored as academic All-Americans.
Mutz was also responsible for Missouri Southern State’s kickoff and kickoff return teams in 2008 and 2009. In his first year in that coaching role, the Lions led the MIAA in that statistical category with more than 1,000 kickoff return yards for an average of 23.59 yards per return, good for 17th nationally.
At Blinn, Mutz oversaw the 2012 Buccaneers’ defense, coached the linebackers and was responsible for the punting unit for special teams. Seven of his student-athletes from the 2012 season went on to sign scholarships at Division I programs.
Hired to Sam Houston State by legendary coach Ron Randleman in 2004, Mutz coached the defensive line, helping the Bearkats tie for the Southland Conference lead with 16 fumble recoveries. Sam Houston State won the Southland Conference championship that season and advanced to its first-ever NCAA FCS semifinal game. Polls placed that 11-3 squad as the No. 4 team in the nation, with its highest-ever wins total and highest-ever ranking to that point.
Mutz worked his way up the coaching ranks, earning his graduate degree at Southern Illinois while serving for two years as an assistant football coach working with the defensive line and secondary. At Southern Illinois he coached Bart Scott, 2006 Pro Bowler for the Baltimore Ravens. Scott is now a fixture on the CBS NFL Pregame show.
Mutz accepted a full-time position at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas in early 2001 and was part of the coaching staff that led the Greyhounds to three-straight playoff appearances.
In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities, Mutz coordinated the video needs for Sam Houston State in 2013 as well as for both the Southern Illinois and Fort Scott programs. He coached the punt and kickoff coverage teams at Fort Scott and also handled duties as the assistant strength coach.
A 1997 graduate of Colorado Mesa University, Mutz graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in coaching. He and his wife Melissa have a son Charles Lucas.
