Report: Mike Denbrock and Joe Sloan expected to join LSU staff
Pete Thamel reports that Cincinnati offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and former Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Joe Sloan will join Brian Kelly's new LSU staff.
Denbrock will be LSU’s offensive coordinator while Joe Sloan will coach quarterbacks.
Mike Denbrock Bio from Cincinnati sports information
Mike Denbrock joined the University of Cincinnati football coaching staff in January 2017 and has served as the offensive coordinator since then. He moved from quarterbacks to tight ends coach in 2018.
A veteran of 30-plus years in the coaching profession, Denbrock has worked as both an offensive and defensive coordinator and coached every position on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2021, Denbrock was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, as Cincinnati went 13-0 for the first time in school history, won its second-straight American Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the College Football Playoffs Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.
Denbrock led one of the nation’s top offensive attacks. The offense broke school records for touchdowns (70) and points scored (510).
UC ranked first in the AAC and eighth nationally in scoring (39.2) and also led the conference and ranked No. 6 overall in yards per play (6.9).
Cincinnati scored 50 points in back-to-back games for the first-time ever when it defeated Temple (52-3) before routing UCF (56-21) in consecutive weeks.
Cincinnati saw seven players collect All-AAC honors, including quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was named the AAC’s Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight year. He was joined on the All-AAC First Team by a trio of offensive linemen, Dylan O’Quinn, Lorenz Metz and Jake Renfro, as well as junior running back Jerome Ford. Senior wide receiver Alec Pierce (second team) and junior tight end Josh Whyle (honorable mention) also earned all-conference accolades. Ridder and Pierce both accepted invitations to the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Ridder developed into the school’s all-time leader in yards and touchdown passes under Denbrock. He also will finish his career at UC as the all-time leader in touchdowns (116) and total yards (12,281) in the AAC. He ranks third all-time in wins (44) by a quarterback in college football history.
Ridder had one of the finest seasons ever by a Bearcat in 2021, passing for 3,190 yards and 30 touchdowns, while Ford proved to be one of the nation’s top running backs as he rushed for 1,243 yards and a school-record-tying 19 touchdowns despite not paying a game-and-a-half with an injury.
Whyle has developed into one of the nation’s top tight ends under Denbrock, ranking second on the Bearcats in touchdown receptions (6) in 2021. Whyle collected third-team All-America and second-team All-AAC honors in 2020 after catching 28 passes for six touchdowns in 2020.
In 2020, Denbrock had five offensive players collect All-AAC honors. The team ranked 19th in total offense, 18th in team passing efficiency and 15th in scoring offense.
Before coming to UC, Denbrock was at Notre Dame from 2010-16 in a variety of roles. He coached tight ends (2010-11), outside receivers and was the passing game coordinator (2012-13), served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach (2014) and was the associate head coach and wide receivers coach (2015-16). During his second stint with the Fighting Irish, Denbrock coached in six bowl games, including the 2012 BCS National Championship.
Known as a dynamic recruiter, Denbrock is a strong offensive mind who had success as the Irish’s primary play caller for two seasons. The offense averaged 443 yards per game and close to seven yards per play over a 25-game span.
He acted as Notre Dame offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2014, with the Irish scoring at least 27 points a school-record 11 times in 2014 and averaging 33.0 points per game -- most since 2005 (36.7) -- and 444.6 yards of total offense per game -- most since 2009 (451.75). Fuller set Irish sophomore records in touchdown receptions (15), catches (76) and receiving yards (1,094) in 2014.
Denbrock returned to Notre Dame in 2010 and spent the next two seasons coaching the Irish tight ends. He was selected by Tom Lemming as one of the 2011 Assistant Coaches of the Year.
He coached 2011 Mackey Award finalist Tyler Eifert to one of the best seasons ever by a Notre Dame tight end. Eifert, now playing with the Cincinnati Bengals, ranked second on the Irish with 63 receptions for 803 yards and five TDs in 2011. Those marks were Notre Dame single-season records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end and led all FBS tight ends in 2011 in both receptions and receiving yards. He was selected to the 2011 Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America first team and became the first Irish tight end named first-team All-American since Derek Brown in 1991.
Denbrock mentored 2010 preseason All-American Kyle Rudolph as he collected 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns in first six games before a hamstring injury ended his season.
Before his time at Notre Dame, Denbrock spent the 2009 season as the associate head coach at Indiana State University and was the offensive line coach at the University of Washington from 2005-08.
He coached offensive tackles and tight ends during his first stint at Notre Dame from 2002-04. The offense produced 1,000-yard rushers in 2002 (Ryan Grant) and 2003 (Julius Jones).
He worked with the offensive tackles and tight ends at Stanford in 2001, developing Kwame Harris (2003 first-round NFL Draft pick) into one of the top offensive tackles in the Pac-10 Conference.
He joined the AFL's Buffalo Destroyers's inaugural coaching staff in 1999 and was the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and offensive and defensive line coach.
He was an assistant at Grand Valley State from 1992-98, coaching the quarterbacks (1992-95) before moving to the defensive side of the ball as coordinator and linebackers coach (1996-98).
Between 1992-95, the Lakers’ offense rated first in the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference in both total and scoring offense each season. He guided a GVSU defensive unit that ranked among the nation’s top 30 in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense each season.
His first full-time coaching assignment came in 1990-91 as the tackles and tight ends coach at Illinois State after working as a graduate assistant at Michigan State for two years, working with quarterbacks and receivers in 1988 and offensive line in 1989.
He broke into coaching as a graduate assistant with the offensive tackles and tight ends from 1986-87 at his alma mater, Grand Valley State. Denbrock was a tight end at GVSU from 1982-85, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1987.
Denbrock and his wife Dianne have a son, Chance.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: Jan. 29, 1964
Hometown: Homer, Mich.
Wife: Dianne
Children: Chance
Education: Grand Valley State (1987, Bachelor’s – Communications)
Year in Coaching: 31st
PLAYING CAREER
1982-85: Grand Valley State (Tight End)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL/POSITION
1986: Grand Valley State - Graduate Assistant
1987: Grand Valley State - Graduate Assistant
1988: Michigan State - Graduate Assistant
1989: Michigan State - Graduate Assistant
1990: Illinois State - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
1991: Illinois State - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
1992: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator/QBs/WRs
1993: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator/QBs/WRs
1994: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator/QBs/WRs
1995: Grand Valley State - Offensive Coordinator/QBs/WRs
1996: Grand Valley State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1997: Grand Valley State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1998: Grand Valley State - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1999: Buffalo (AFL) - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/OL/DL
2020: Buffalo (AFL) - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/OL/DL
2001: Stanford - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
2002: Notre Dame - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
2003: Notre Dame - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
2004: Notre Dame - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
2005: Washington - Offensive Line
2006: Washington - Offensive Line
2007: Washington - Offensive Line
2008: Washington - Offensive Line
2009: Indiana State - Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/LBs
2010: Notre Dame - Tight Ends
2011: Notre Dame - Tight Ends
2012: Notre Dame - Outside Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
2013: Notre Dame - Outside Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
2014: Notre Dame - Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
2015: Notre Dame - Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers
2016: Notre Dame - Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers
2017: Cincinnati - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2018: Cincinnati - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
2019: Cincinnati - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
2020: Cincinnati - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
2021: Cincinnati - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL/BOWL
1989: Michigan State/Gator
1989: Michigan State/Aloha
1994: Grand Valley State/NCAA Division II First Round
1998: Grand Valley State/NCAA Division II First Round
2000: Buffalo/AFL Playoffs
2001: Stanford/Seattle
2003: Notre Dame/Gator
2004: Notre Dame/Insight
2010: Notre Dame/Sun
2011: Notre Dame/Champs Sports
2012: Notre Dame/BCS National Championship
2013: Notre Dame/Pinstripe
2014: Notre Dame/Music City
2015: Notre Dame/Fiesta
2018: Cincinnati - Military
2019: Cincinnati - Birmingham
2020: Cincinnati – Peach
2021: Cincinnati – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)
Joe Sloan Bio from Louisiana Tech
Joe Sloan enters his second season as Louisiana Tech's offensive coordinator and ninth overall season with the Bulldogs. He also oversees the LA Tech quarterbacks.
Sloan began his Tech coaching career in 2013 as the inside receivers coach and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in 2014. In 2015 he was named the assistant head coach and prior to the 2019 season, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator. On Jan. 14, 2020, Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz announced the promotion of Sloan to offensive coordinator.
Sloan has spearheaded recruiting efforts for the Bulldogs over his eight years in Ruston, and boasted the number one recruiting class (2020) in Conference USA and the No. 4 ranked class among G5 programs according to Rivals.
During the 2020 campaign, Sloan oversaw a Louisiana Tech offense that ranked first in C-USA and second in the FBS in fourth down conversions at 88.9 percent (16-of-18). He guided the offense to rank fourth in C-USA and 53rd in the FBS in red zone offense at 84.6 percent (33-of-39). The Louisiana Tech offense also ranked fourth in C-USA in passing with an average of 216.6 passing yards per game.
In 2020, Sloan coached quarterback Luke Anthony to be named the 2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year after Anthony completed 138-of-221 passes for 1,479 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sloan also saw center Kody Russey earn all-Conference USA first team honors and wide receiver Adrian Hardy earn second team honors. Five Bulldogs on the offensive side of the ball were named all-C-USA honorable mentions and offensive lineman Dakota White earned a spot on the Conference USA all-Freshman Team.
During his time in Ruston, Sloan has overseen the development of some of the program's top offensive threats. Since 2013, 31 Bulldogs on the offensive side of the ball have earned all-conference superlative or team awards in one of the league's most potent offenses, including Luke Anthony (2020 C-USA Newcomer of the Year), J'Mar Smith (2019 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year), Teddy Veal (2017 C-USA Newcomer of the Year) and Carlos Henderson (2016 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year).
He also coached wide receiver Trent Taylor who from 2013-16 racked up the second-most receiving yards in program history (4,179) and under Sloan's guidance, finished his career with the most career receptions by a Bulldog (327).
Sloan has been a part of Louisiana Tech's seven straight bowl appearances, including a streak of six winning seasons and six bowl victories (2014-19). In 2019, LA Tech produced a 10-win season which marked the first time since 1984 that the program recorded double-digit victories. The 10th win came in the 2019 Walk On's Independence Bowl as the Bulldogs shut out the Miami Hurricanes, 14-0, in Shreveport. It was the first shutout in Independence Bowl history and the only shutout of the 2019 bowl season.
In 2019, Sloan helped guide an offense that among C-USA programs, ranked second in scoring (32.5 PPG), second in total offense (436.8 YPG), fourth in both passing (268.5 YPG) and rushing (168.4 YPG), first in third-down conversion % (41.4) and second in first downs (304).
In 2018, Sloan helped guide the Bulldogs to an 8-5 overall record, including a 31-14 victory over Hawaii in the 2018 SoFi Hawaii Bowl. This was followed by a 2017 season when the team closed out the regular season with two victories to become bowl eligible and then overpowered SMU, 51-10, in the inaugural DXL Frisco Bowl.
The 2016 season saw LA Tech finish with a 9-5 record and a C-USA West Division title. That year saw the Tech offense lead the league in completion percentage (.667), first downs (358), and passing offense (363.4 YPG), while Trent Taylor (1,803 yards)a nd Carlos Henderson (1,535 yards) ranked first and fifth nationally in total receiving yards for the season.
In 2014, Sloan helped guide the fifth most improved scoring offense in the nation as the Bulldogs captured the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl title with a 35-18 win over Illinois at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. The 2014 season resulted in a 9-5 record, five more wins than the previous year, and a C-USA West Division championship thanks to a 7-1 mark in league play.
In his second season on staff, Sloan played an integral part in LA Tech's nationally ranked offensive numbers, with the Bulldogs ranking 13th in scoring offense, 15th in fourth down conversion percentage and 22nd in red zone offense.
Formerly a graduate assistant at South Florida, Sloan joined the Louisiana Tech Family after having spent the previous eight years with Holtz, either as a player or as a coach. Sloan was an offensive quality control assistant at South Florida from 2010-11 and then spent the 2012 season as a graduate assistant coach for the Bulls.
Prior to his tenure at USF, Sloan was an administrative assistant/recruiting for the Spring of 2010, assisting with all aspects of ECU's recruiting efforts.
Sloan finished up his collegiate days at ECU after playing in all 14 games in 2009 with the Pirates. Sloan appeared in 41 career games throughout his final three years at ECU and was the special team unit's placeholder for those three seasons.
During the 2009 season, Sloan assisted with opponent breakdown and scouting reports, organized and ran the offensive scout team during practice, assisted with the weekly game plan development and implementation and participated in all offensive staff meetings.
He earned a redshirt season in 2005 after walk-on tryouts and was a scout team player in 2006 but did not see game action. Throughout his career, Sloan was also a reserve quarterback.
In 2009, Sloan was nominated for the Rudy Award, which honors a student-athlete who demonstrates exemplary "character, courage, contribution and commitment" as a member of their collegiate football team.
In addition, he was a three-time winner of the team's Jerry T. Brooks Award for superior academic achievement from 2007-09. Sloan was also a three-time member of the PCS Phosphate ECU All-Academic Team from 2008-10, the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and a Conference USA Academic Medal recipient.
Sloan earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, managerial finance from ECU in December 2008, graduating Summa Cum Laude, before earning his MBA in May 2010. Sloan was selected to the ECU Athletic Director's Honor Roll each semester at ECU.
A Chester, Va., native, Sloan starred at Thomas Dale High School prior to arriving at ECU.
He is married to the former Taylor Thomas. The couple have one daughter, Whitley.