Bielema Names Hankwitz Defensive Coordinator
January 15, 2006 | Football
Mike Hankwitz, a 36-year college football coaching veteran and most recently the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Colorado, has been named an assistant coach at Wisconsin, head coach Bret Bielema announced Sunday.
Hankwitz will serve as the Badgers' defensive coordinator.
'I am thrilled to be able to have a coach with Mike 's background to run our defense,' Bielema said. 'He has been a key element in numerous successful programs and he has been the architect of some of college football's best defenses during the past 25 years. We are very fortunate that he will be bringing his experience and knowledge to Wisconsin.'
Hankwitz spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Colorado. He served as the program's interim head coach for the Buffaloes' 2005 Champs Sports Bowl appearance against Clemson. CU won the Big 12 North Division title in both 2004 and 2005.Hankwitz had gone to Colorado after serving as Arizona's defensive coordinator (and later interim head coach) in 2003.
Prior to his stint at Arizona, Hankwitz was the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach (he also coached inside linebackers and punters) at Texas A&M (1997-2002) where he guided the Aggies' famed 'Wrecking Crew ' defense. Texas A&M was 49-26 with five bowl appearances, one Big 12 title, one Big 12 South title and three national top-20 rankings during Hankwitz's years there. The Aggies averaged 40 QB sacks per year during Hankwitz's tenure and led the Big 12 in QB sacks per game in 2001 and 2002. Among Hankwitz's standout players at Texas A&M was Dat Nguyen, who won the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards, as well as being named Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.
Hankwitz spent two seasons (1995-96) as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for head coach Glen Mason at Kansas. The 1995 Jayhawks recorded the school's first 10-win season since 1905, played in the Aloha Bowl and were ranked 10th in the final national polls.
Hankwitz enjoyed a highly successful 10-year run as defensive coordinator (along with responsibilities for outside linebackers, inside linebackers, the secondary, punters and the punt team) at Colorado from 1985-94. Colorado put together the nation's fifth-best record (58-11-4) from 1989-94, including a national title in 1990, three Big 8 titles, two appearances each in the Orange and Fiesta Bowls and six national top-20 rankings (including three top-five finishes). The Buffs' 1989 and 1991 teams set the school record for fewest points allowed (150) in a season. Among Hankwitz's standout players at CU were Jim Thorpe Award winners Deon Figures (1992) and Chris Hudson (1994), and Butkus Award winner Alfred Williams (1990). In addition, Colorado led the nation in net punting twice; finished among the top 10 on five other occasions and averaged 40 yards in net punting from 1985-94.
Hanwitz spent the preceding three seasons (1982-84) as defensive coordinator (with additional responsibilities for the secondary, punters, punt team, punt return and punt rush) at Western Michigan. The 1982 Broncos, who finished second in the Mid-American Conference, were No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 9 nationally in total defense.
Hankwitz was the outside linebackers and punting coach at Purdue from 1977-81. The Boilermakers won 10 games in 1979 and were 28-7-1 from 1978-80, finishing with bowl wins and top-20 rankings in each of those seasons.
Prior to his time at Purdue, Hankwitz was the outside linebackers and secondary coach (along with punt return and punt rush) at Arizona from 1973-76. The Wildcats put together a 26-7 record from 1973-75, including one conference title and one top-20 national ranking. The 1974 team set a school record for interceptions in a season with 27.
Hankwitz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant (1970-72) at his alma mater, Michigan, under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler. As a defensive G.A., Hankwitz helped the Wolverines to two Big Ten titles, a 30-3 record, three top-10 national rankings and a 1971 Rose Bowl appearance.
As a defensive coordinator, Hankwitz has '
' coached for 21 years at six different schools with a winning record in 18 of the 21 years.
' coached in 15 bowl games and coached for seven conference championship teams in the past 18 years.
' recorded 31 wins over nationally ranked teams in the past 16 years, including eight wins over top-five teams and a pair of victories over No. 1-ranked opponents.
' coached defenses ranked in the top 25 in 13 of 21 years.
' coordinated defense for Colorado's 1990 national title team.
Teams for which Hankwitz has coached have had a winning record in 30 of his 36 years. Ten of those clubs won conference titles and 12 more were league runners-up. He has coached in 21 bowl games. Hankwitz also has coached 14 first-team All-Americans (including four straight punters at Colorado), five conference defensive players of the year, 44 first-team all-conference choices and seven team MVPs. He has recruited eight players who went on to play in the NFL.
The 58-year-old Hankwitz is a native of Ludington, Mich. He was a three-year football letterwinner for the Wolverines and started on the 1969 Big Ten championship squad that played in the Rose Bowl. Hankwitz earned a B.S. in education in 1970. He and his wife, Cathy, have a son, Jacob, 12.
