Lucas: Mitchell’s gamble pays off big
March 06, 2023 | Football, Mike Lucas
Badgers’ new outside linebackers coach leap of faith led him to Madison
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – After two years doubling as a chemistry/physics teacher and head coach at Iowa City Regina High School – where his teams posted back-to-back 6-3 records, reviving a program that had endured 10 straight losing seasons – Matt Mitchell made a career-impacting decision.
He bet on himself.
"I ended up being the head football coach at a way too young age of 23, and I got to the point where I enjoyed it all but I really loved the coaching aspect," he said. "So, I took a massive leap of faith and a big pay cut and went up to Wartburg and that's where I was able to reunite with Mike Tressel.
"That's been a relationship that has been going on for decades."
Their connection was nurtured and strengthened in small, sleepy college towns in the state of Iowa. Wartburg College (Waverly) was an early coaching stepping-stone for both Mitchell and Tressel, who had been teammates and roommates at Cornell College (Mount Vernon).
Mitchell started on the D-line, Tressel in the secondary for Hall of Fame coach Steve Miller.
"I had some great mentors," Mitchell said. "They really started to shape and form me."
After Tressel earned his math degree from Cornell – he graduated first in his class and was a Phi Beta Kappa – he got his masters while serving as a GA at South Dakota. In 1998, he was hired as an offensive assistant on Rick Willis' coaching staff at Wartburg, a Division III school, like Cornell.
Mitchell was soon to follow after his stint as a prep coach in Iowa City, a 100-mile drive from Wartburg, where it all began in earnest for Mitchell and Tressel as full-time college assistants under Willis, also a Cornell grad. Obviously, the American Rivers Conference is a long way from the Big Ten.
But after going their separate ways for two decades – including Mitchell running his own program at Grand Valley State the last 13 years – they've been reunited again, this time on Luke Fickell's staff at Wisconsin. Tressel is the defensive coordinator, Mitchell is the outside linebackers coach.
"Mike is very passionate about the game of football. He knows a lot about defensive football," Mitchell said. "I haven't worked for him for a long time but being around him the last four weeks, you can definitely tell that. He's a high-character person who values relationships and family.
"It's a pretty competitive profession.
"But when you have high character people, then you know you always have that foundation."
Mitchell's position group has been the foundation of some of Wisconsin's best defenses. The hood ornament has been T.J. Watt, the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Joe Schobert, Vince Biegel, Andrew Van Ginkel, Zack Baun and Leon Jacobs have made their marks as pros, too.
Nick Herbig, who has declared for the 2023 draft, is the latest in the pipeline.
"When I walk into the (OLB meeting) room, I'm reminded of and impressed by the tradition of the outside linebacker position here at Wisconsin," Mitchell said. "It's humbling. When you look up on the wall (at the pictures) there's a standard that has been set.
"There's a lot of history and tradition and you work your best every day to try and live up to it."
Jim Leonhard has been the architect of a string of nationally-ranked defenses – some of the finest in school history. The Badgers have operated out of a 3-4 base under Leonhard. As they did under Justin Wilcox. As they did under Dave Aranda. Tressel's base alignment is a 3-3-5 against 11 personnel.
On how much of a departure that may be for Wisconsin's outside linebackers, Mitchell said, "Not a huge departure. There are changes but we all have a lot of respect for coach Leonhard and coach (Bobby) April in terms of what they were able to do (April previously coached the OLBs).
"It would be foolish with the number of outside linebackers coming back – obviously we lost Nick Herbig but the rest of the unit is back – it would be foolish to make a massive departure. It starts with coach Fickell and coach Tressel blending some of the elite things that were done here."
There will be some tweaks, he suggested, in techniques and fundamentals that are consistent with the defensive staff's philosophy along with some carryover from Tressel's successful defenses at Cincinnati (and before that at Michigan State). The goal is to "hit the ground running" in spring ball.
"Playing in the Big Ten West, we definitely need outside linebackers who can set edges in the run game," said Mitchell, detailing what he's looking for from his position. "We have to have guys who can use their hands very well – great feet, great hands – and are very disciplined in terms of eye control.
"It's a very unique position. We ask them to rush the passer, we ask them to pressure inside, we ask them to drop into zone coverage and man coverage. They've got to be really a five-tool player.
"You need players who are really intelligent and do a great job of immersing themselves in the preparation because they have a lot of different jobs. A lot of the stuff has to do with approach, accountability, the attitude and the effort."
C.J. Goetz is the most experienced outside linebacker in the returning group and Mitchell has been impressed with his "understanding of the game of football" and "his feel" for the position. Darryl Peterson started some games last season and Mitchell noted that he's "really attacking things."
Without naming everyone in his room, he mentioned how Kaden Johnson, T.J. Bollers, Michigan State transfer Jeff Pietrowski and freshman Jordan Mayer have gotten off to good starts and are growing and learning. "All these kids have been awesome," Mitchell said. "They've welcomed me in."
One of Mitchell's former pupils from Grand Valley State is Matthew Judon, one of the NFL's top edge rushers and a multiple-time Pro Bowler. Over the last two seasons combined, the 6-3, 261-pound Judon had 28 sacks for the New England Patriots. Prior to that, he played five years with the Baltimore Ravens.
A fifth-round draft choice, Judon dominated the Division II ranks on the line of scrimmage and was named Player of the Year. As a senior, he had 21 sacks, 23.5 TFLs and 81 tackles. "He's a special one. I was fortunate to be his recruiter out of West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School," Mitchell recalled.
Judon was in Mitchell's first recruiting class at Grand Valley State (Allendale, Mich.), a D-2 heavyweight. Over his 12 seasons as head coach (one year was wiped out by COVID), Mitchell had a 117-31 record with seven playoff appearances. Last year's team was 12-0 before losing to rival Ferris State in the Division II Playoffs.
"It's a program that has incredibly high expectations," said Mitchell, who made the jump from Wartburg College to a Grand Valley State assistant in 2004 under former head coach Chuck Martin whose GVSU teams won consecutive national championships in 2005 and 2006.
"When you're the assistant coach or head coach there, it forces you on a daily basis to be your best. You don't settle for anything less than your best. The expectation by everybody is to win playoff games and try to compete for national championships. That was the yearly expectation."
Martin took over for Brian Kelly, who also won two NCAA titles at Grand Valley State before landing at Central Michigan. As it is, Mitchell's 117 career wins rank second at the school to Kelly's 118. His teams won 10 or more games seven times (including two unbeaten regular seasons).
"Just from a relationship standpoint, going from a head coach, where you had about 125 players, to currently, there are nine outside linebackers and some specialists," Mitchell said of his transition to UW assistant, "it's more focused which allows you to have those deeper relationships.
"It's an adjustment. But after being a head coach for 13 years, I'm enjoying this new challenge. The culture here both from the university and athletic department and through coach Fickell is very strong. There's a lot of clarity in regard to the communication and expectations."
Everyone knows exactly what is expected, he added. Although Mitchell has never worked for Fickell, he knows people who have. Tressel, for one. "Beyond Mike," he said, "there were people that were saying awesome things about who he is and his character, but also about the strength of culture."
During his short time on the Madison campus, he has observed the formative stages of Fickell's program. Much of which has begun in the UW football weight room, now under the supervision of Brady Collins. As a certified strength and conditioning coach, himself, Mitchell has a relatable perspective.
"Brady Collins is as good as I've ever been around – that's me being around strength stuff for close to 25 years – so I'm impressed with him and his staff," Mitchell said. "When I first got here, before I went on the road recruiting, I spent a lot of time down in the weight room.
"He brings the energy and expectations every single day. He doesn't have a down day. It's hard to walk into that weight room and not perform. It's something I'm definitely telling recruits that they've got to see and witness first-hand. It's truly genuine that it's different here at Wisconsin."
Mitchell is anxious to make a difference. At a difference-making position. Bet on him. He did.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – After two years doubling as a chemistry/physics teacher and head coach at Iowa City Regina High School – where his teams posted back-to-back 6-3 records, reviving a program that had endured 10 straight losing seasons – Matt Mitchell made a career-impacting decision.
He bet on himself.
"I ended up being the head football coach at a way too young age of 23, and I got to the point where I enjoyed it all but I really loved the coaching aspect," he said. "So, I took a massive leap of faith and a big pay cut and went up to Wartburg and that's where I was able to reunite with Mike Tressel.
"That's been a relationship that has been going on for decades."
Their connection was nurtured and strengthened in small, sleepy college towns in the state of Iowa. Wartburg College (Waverly) was an early coaching stepping-stone for both Mitchell and Tressel, who had been teammates and roommates at Cornell College (Mount Vernon).
Mitchell started on the D-line, Tressel in the secondary for Hall of Fame coach Steve Miller.
"I had some great mentors," Mitchell said. "They really started to shape and form me."
After Tressel earned his math degree from Cornell – he graduated first in his class and was a Phi Beta Kappa – he got his masters while serving as a GA at South Dakota. In 1998, he was hired as an offensive assistant on Rick Willis' coaching staff at Wartburg, a Division III school, like Cornell.
Mitchell was soon to follow after his stint as a prep coach in Iowa City, a 100-mile drive from Wartburg, where it all began in earnest for Mitchell and Tressel as full-time college assistants under Willis, also a Cornell grad. Obviously, the American Rivers Conference is a long way from the Big Ten.
But after going their separate ways for two decades – including Mitchell running his own program at Grand Valley State the last 13 years – they've been reunited again, this time on Luke Fickell's staff at Wisconsin. Tressel is the defensive coordinator, Mitchell is the outside linebackers coach.
"Mike is very passionate about the game of football. He knows a lot about defensive football," Mitchell said. "I haven't worked for him for a long time but being around him the last four weeks, you can definitely tell that. He's a high-character person who values relationships and family.
"It's a pretty competitive profession.
"But when you have high character people, then you know you always have that foundation."
Mitchell's position group has been the foundation of some of Wisconsin's best defenses. The hood ornament has been T.J. Watt, the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Joe Schobert, Vince Biegel, Andrew Van Ginkel, Zack Baun and Leon Jacobs have made their marks as pros, too.
Nick Herbig, who has declared for the 2023 draft, is the latest in the pipeline.
"When I walk into the (OLB meeting) room, I'm reminded of and impressed by the tradition of the outside linebacker position here at Wisconsin," Mitchell said. "It's humbling. When you look up on the wall (at the pictures) there's a standard that has been set.
"There's a lot of history and tradition and you work your best every day to try and live up to it."
Jim Leonhard has been the architect of a string of nationally-ranked defenses – some of the finest in school history. The Badgers have operated out of a 3-4 base under Leonhard. As they did under Justin Wilcox. As they did under Dave Aranda. Tressel's base alignment is a 3-3-5 against 11 personnel.
On how much of a departure that may be for Wisconsin's outside linebackers, Mitchell said, "Not a huge departure. There are changes but we all have a lot of respect for coach Leonhard and coach (Bobby) April in terms of what they were able to do (April previously coached the OLBs).
"It would be foolish with the number of outside linebackers coming back – obviously we lost Nick Herbig but the rest of the unit is back – it would be foolish to make a massive departure. It starts with coach Fickell and coach Tressel blending some of the elite things that were done here."
There will be some tweaks, he suggested, in techniques and fundamentals that are consistent with the defensive staff's philosophy along with some carryover from Tressel's successful defenses at Cincinnati (and before that at Michigan State). The goal is to "hit the ground running" in spring ball.
"Playing in the Big Ten West, we definitely need outside linebackers who can set edges in the run game," said Mitchell, detailing what he's looking for from his position. "We have to have guys who can use their hands very well – great feet, great hands – and are very disciplined in terms of eye control.
"It's a very unique position. We ask them to rush the passer, we ask them to pressure inside, we ask them to drop into zone coverage and man coverage. They've got to be really a five-tool player.
"You need players who are really intelligent and do a great job of immersing themselves in the preparation because they have a lot of different jobs. A lot of the stuff has to do with approach, accountability, the attitude and the effort."
C.J. Goetz is the most experienced outside linebacker in the returning group and Mitchell has been impressed with his "understanding of the game of football" and "his feel" for the position. Darryl Peterson started some games last season and Mitchell noted that he's "really attacking things."
Without naming everyone in his room, he mentioned how Kaden Johnson, T.J. Bollers, Michigan State transfer Jeff Pietrowski and freshman Jordan Mayer have gotten off to good starts and are growing and learning. "All these kids have been awesome," Mitchell said. "They've welcomed me in."
One of Mitchell's former pupils from Grand Valley State is Matthew Judon, one of the NFL's top edge rushers and a multiple-time Pro Bowler. Over the last two seasons combined, the 6-3, 261-pound Judon had 28 sacks for the New England Patriots. Prior to that, he played five years with the Baltimore Ravens.
A fifth-round draft choice, Judon dominated the Division II ranks on the line of scrimmage and was named Player of the Year. As a senior, he had 21 sacks, 23.5 TFLs and 81 tackles. "He's a special one. I was fortunate to be his recruiter out of West Bloomfield (Mich.) High School," Mitchell recalled.
Judon was in Mitchell's first recruiting class at Grand Valley State (Allendale, Mich.), a D-2 heavyweight. Over his 12 seasons as head coach (one year was wiped out by COVID), Mitchell had a 117-31 record with seven playoff appearances. Last year's team was 12-0 before losing to rival Ferris State in the Division II Playoffs.
"It's a program that has incredibly high expectations," said Mitchell, who made the jump from Wartburg College to a Grand Valley State assistant in 2004 under former head coach Chuck Martin whose GVSU teams won consecutive national championships in 2005 and 2006.
"When you're the assistant coach or head coach there, it forces you on a daily basis to be your best. You don't settle for anything less than your best. The expectation by everybody is to win playoff games and try to compete for national championships. That was the yearly expectation."
Martin took over for Brian Kelly, who also won two NCAA titles at Grand Valley State before landing at Central Michigan. As it is, Mitchell's 117 career wins rank second at the school to Kelly's 118. His teams won 10 or more games seven times (including two unbeaten regular seasons).
"Just from a relationship standpoint, going from a head coach, where you had about 125 players, to currently, there are nine outside linebackers and some specialists," Mitchell said of his transition to UW assistant, "it's more focused which allows you to have those deeper relationships.
"It's an adjustment. But after being a head coach for 13 years, I'm enjoying this new challenge. The culture here both from the university and athletic department and through coach Fickell is very strong. There's a lot of clarity in regard to the communication and expectations."
Everyone knows exactly what is expected, he added. Although Mitchell has never worked for Fickell, he knows people who have. Tressel, for one. "Beyond Mike," he said, "there were people that were saying awesome things about who he is and his character, but also about the strength of culture."
During his short time on the Madison campus, he has observed the formative stages of Fickell's program. Much of which has begun in the UW football weight room, now under the supervision of Brady Collins. As a certified strength and conditioning coach, himself, Mitchell has a relatable perspective.
"Brady Collins is as good as I've ever been around – that's me being around strength stuff for close to 25 years – so I'm impressed with him and his staff," Mitchell said. "When I first got here, before I went on the road recruiting, I spent a lot of time down in the weight room.
"He brings the energy and expectations every single day. He doesn't have a down day. It's hard to walk into that weight room and not perform. It's something I'm definitely telling recruits that they've got to see and witness first-hand. It's truly genuine that it's different here at Wisconsin."
Mitchell is anxious to make a difference. At a difference-making position. Bet on him. He did.
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