Mike Denbrock is in his third season coaching the offensive line at Notre Dame. He works with John McDonell in coaching the Fighting Irish offensive line, concentrating on the tackles and tight ends. Notre Dame's offensive tackles and tight ends were a big factor as the Irish have produced 1,000-yard rushers in both of Denbrock's first two seasons in South Bend. In 2003, Julius Jones rushed for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns to become the eighth 1,000-yard rusher in school history. Jones' rushing total ranks tied for the fourth-best in Notre Dame history. Jones also rushed for more than 200 yards in a game three times in 2003, including a school-record 262-yard performance against Pittsburgh, 221 yards against Navy and 218 versus Stanford. In 2002, Ryan Grant garnered the 10th-best single-season rushing performance in school history with 1,085 yards on the ground. Grant's year was highlighted by the 12th-best single-game rushing day when he gained 190 yards on the ground at Air Force. During his time at Notre Dame, Denbrock has tutored several offensive linemen who have become NFL Draft selections. In the 2004 Draft, offensive tackle Jim Molinaro was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round. In 2003, Notre Dame had four offensive linemen taken in the draft as center Jeff Faine was a first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, tackle Jordan Black went in the fifth round to the Kansas City Chiefs, Sean Mahan was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tackle Brennan Curtin was a sixth-round selection of the Green Bay Packers. Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Denbrock worked in a similar capacity under head coach Tyrone Willingham for one season at Stanford in 2001. Denbrock's line helped lead the way for a Stanford rushing attack which ranked 23rd in the nation in 2001, averaging more than 200 yards per game and scoring 27 touchdowns. Before coming to Stanford, Denbrock was the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and offensive and defensive line coach for the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League in 1999-2000. In his second year, Denbrock helped the Destroyers land a playoff berth. His 1999 defense finished third in the league in both scoring and total defense. Prior to his two years in Buffalo, Denbrock coached at his alma mater, Grand Valley State (1992-98), following coaching stops at Illinois State (1990-91) and Michigan State (1988-89). At NCAA Division II Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich., Denbrock was the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator at different times during his seven years (1992-98). He was the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach from 1992-95, then switched to the defensive side of the ball, where he was the coordinator and linebackers coach from 1996-98. Denbrock's defensive unit at Grand Valley State ranked among the nation's top 30 in total defense, scoring defense and rush defense from 1996-98. His 1996 defense led the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference and was 11th nationally in scoring defense while also leading the conference in total defense. As the offensive coordinator, Denbrock's squad was first in the MIFC in both total and scoring offense from 1992-94. In 1995, his offense ranked eighth in the nation in scoring and 12th in total offense. Eight of his players earned first-team All-America honors during his seven years at Grand Valley State. Following four seasons as a graduate assistant at both Michigan State (1988-89) and Grand Valley State (1986-87), Denbrock's first full-time coaching assignment came in 1990-91 as the tackles and tight ends coach at Illinois State. A 1986 graduate of Grand Valley State, Denbrock holds a bachelor's degree in communications. As a member of Grand Valley State's football team from 1982-85, Denbrock won the Phillip Shultz Award for attitude and commitment to the football program. Born Jan. 29, 1964, in Albion, Mich., Denbrock is married to the former Dianne Swanson.
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