New Defensive Line Coach .... Garrett Mack

[ZippyDoo]

I'm excited... I have heard from other coaches outside of Akron that he is a great coach, his players love him and he is a great teacher of the game...

 

Coaching break down from Wikipedia if you are interested  ....

 

Garrett Mack...

 

Garrett Mack began his college coaching career as a student assistant at Baldwin Wallace University in the spring of 2013,  After gaining head coaching experience at Oberlin High School, Mack transitioned to college assistant roles focused on defensive development. In 2017 and 2019, Mack served as the linebackers coach at Oberlin College, where he emphasized player technique and game preparation for the defensive unit. During the 2017 season, he mentored Von Wooding, who led the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in tackles with 101, earning all-conference honors and highlighting Mack's impact on individual linebacker performance. Over his two seasons at Oberlin, Mack coached three All-NCAC players, contributing to the team's defensive efforts in a competitive conference environment.  In 2018 when he joined Baldwin Wallace University as the wide receivers coach and strength and conditioning coordinator, shifting focus to offensive skill positions while maintaining involvement in overall player conditioning to support team defenses indirectly through improved athleticism.  From 2020 to 2021, Mack advanced to Notre Dame College (Ohio) as an assistant coach, serving as tight ends coach in 2020 during a 5–0 undefeated season and then as defensive line coach, run game coordinator, and recruiting coordinator in 2021, marking a progression toward specialized defensive front responsibilities in NCAA Division II. In this position, he developed the Falcons' defensive line and contributed to the team's success, including an 11–2 overall record and a No. 9 ranking in the final AFCA Division II poll that year. 

 

Garrett Mack was named the fifth head coach in Notre Dame College football program history on February 3, 2022. In his inaugural 2022 season, Mack implemented a philosophy centered on mindfulness and present-focused execution, encapsulated in the team slogan "Only now exists," which encouraged players to prioritize immediate preparation over past achievements.  The Falcons compiled a 9–3 overall record, including a dominant 9–1 mark in MEC play that clinched the program's first outright conference championship since 2019.   Key to the success was a stout defense under Mack's influence, which led NCAA Division II with six defensive touchdowns and restricted opponents to an 86.73 passing efficiency rating.  

 

Garrett Mack joined Duquesne University as the defensive line coach ahead of the 2024 football season, marking his return to an assistant coaching role after serving as head coach at Notre Dame College following the institution's closure in early 2024. In this position, Mack oversees the development of the defensive line unit, integrating defensive schemes tailored to the team's needs, and providing mentorship to players in technique and game preparation.  During his inaugural season at Duquesne in 2024, Mack's coaching contributed to significant improvements in the defensive line's performance, with the unit recording 27 sacks—17 of which came in conference play, ranking second in the Northeast Conference (NEC)—while forcing four fumbles and recovering three.  He guided three defensive linemen to all-conference honors: A.J. Ackerman and Jack Dunkley earned first-team selections, and Jason Patterson received second-team recognition. Dunkley's standout season included 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, tying for the NEC lead and ranking 12th nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in sacks per game.   These efforts helped Duquesne achieve an 8-3 overall record and a 5-1 mark in NEC play, sharing the conference regular-season title, while establishing the top-ranked defenses in the NEC for red-zone efficiency, first downs allowed, and third-down conversions. In 2025, Mack has expanded his responsibilities to include recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator, building on his prior experience in these areas from earlier coaching stops.

[Captain Kangaroo]

4 minutes ago, ZippyDoo said:

Garrett Mack was named the fifth head coach in Notre Dame College football program history on February 3, 2022.

The Akron/Notre Dame pipeline continues...😀

 

Seems like this is a good one. 37 years old, and a local/Ohio guy (Brunswick). It's never a bad thing to have former HC's on your staff. We have 2 now, in Brookhart and Mack.

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

The Akron/Notre Dame pipeline continues...😀

 

Seems like this is a good one. 37 years old, and a local/Ohio guy (Brunswick). It's never a bad thing to have former HC's on your staff. We have 2 now, in Brookhart and Mack.

Seems like he could be a candidate to succeed Joe Mo one day. Those NDC teams were pretty good before the school shut down.