Central Michigan University Athletics
Stripling Named Interim Head Coach
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan University Director of Athletics Dave Heeke has named associate head coach Steve Stripling as the football program’s interim head coach through the GMAC Bowl.
Stripling, who has 30 years of coaching experience, will lead the No. 25 Chippewas into the GMAC Bowl against Troy on Jan. 6. It will be the 21st bowl game he has participated in as either a player or coach.
“I have great confidence in Steve’s ability to lead our football program through the GMAC Bowl,” Heeke said. “He has served us well as associate head coach and his many years of experience have earned him the respect of our players and coaches.
“We are very thankful for the contributions Butch Jones has made to our football program, our university and our community,” Heeke added. “Any opportunity that arises for him is a reflection of the high-quality student-athletes and strong tradition that Central Michigan has enjoyed. We are excited to be a top-25 program preparing for our fourth consecutive bowl game. We wish him and his family all the best at the University of Cincinnati.”
Stripling joined the CMU coaching staff in 2009 as the associate head coach-defense and coached the defensive ends. Stripling worked directly with a pair of All-Mid-American Conference defensive ends during his first season in Mount Pleasant. Frank Zombo was an All-MAC first team selection for the second straight season, while Larry Knight was an All-MAC third team honoree.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to lead this program,” Stripling said. “We want to make this a winning experience and have an enjoyable experience as well. This team has accomplished a lot already this season, and we are looking forward to achieving our goals of being bowl champions and finishing in the top 25.”
Prior to CMU, Stripling coached the defensive line at Michigan from 2005-07. He worked directly with defensive end LaMarr Woodley, a 2006 All-American who won the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Trophy. Woodley also was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 2006. Tackle Alan Branch also earned All-Big Ten first team and All-America second team accolades under Stripling.
The 2006 Wolverines led the nation in rush defense, surrendering just 43.3 yards per game on the ground. Stripling was a part of Michigan teams that played in the Alamo Bowl, Rose Bowl and Capital One Bowl.
Stripling’s other Big Ten experience includes two seasons at Michigan State University (2003-04), four seasons at the University of Minnesota (1997-2000) and 13 seasons at Indiana University (1984-96). He was the defensive coordinator at Indiana in 1996.
Stripling worked directly with two All-Big Ten selections at Michigan State, two at Minnesota and seven at Indiana. He was part of the 2003 Alamo Bowl at Michigan State, the 1999 Sun Bowl and 2000 MicronPC.com Bowl at Minnesota and six bowl games at Indiana.
Stripling also spent four seasons at Northern Illinois University (1980-83) and two years at the University of Louisville (2001-02). He helped lead NIU to the 1983 Mid-American Conference championship and coached three all-conference selections at Louisville, including 2001 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Dewayne White.
Stripling earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Colorado. As a player, he was part of Colorado teams that played in three bowl games: the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl, 1972 Gator Bowl and 1975 Bluebonnet Bowl.
He signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons after graduating from Colorado in 1976. He spent the 1977-78 seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater before filling the role of recruiting coach at the University of North Carolina in 1979.
CMU is making its fourth straight bowl game appearance. The Chippewas defeated Ohio, 20-10, in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4 to capture their third MAC title in four seasons and seventh overall. The championship game victory moved CMU to No. 25 in the Associated Press poll, marking the first time CMU has been ranked in the top 25.
The Chippewas (11-2 overall, 8-0 MAC) close the season by taking on Sun Belt Conference champion Troy (9-3 overall, 8-0 Sun Belt) in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 6. ESPN will televise the contest beginning at 6 p.m. Central Time.
Stripling, who has 30 years of coaching experience, will lead the No. 25 Chippewas into the GMAC Bowl against Troy on Jan. 6. It will be the 21st bowl game he has participated in as either a player or coach.
“I have great confidence in Steve’s ability to lead our football program through the GMAC Bowl,” Heeke said. “He has served us well as associate head coach and his many years of experience have earned him the respect of our players and coaches.
“We are very thankful for the contributions Butch Jones has made to our football program, our university and our community,” Heeke added. “Any opportunity that arises for him is a reflection of the high-quality student-athletes and strong tradition that Central Michigan has enjoyed. We are excited to be a top-25 program preparing for our fourth consecutive bowl game. We wish him and his family all the best at the University of Cincinnati.”
Stripling joined the CMU coaching staff in 2009 as the associate head coach-defense and coached the defensive ends. Stripling worked directly with a pair of All-Mid-American Conference defensive ends during his first season in Mount Pleasant. Frank Zombo was an All-MAC first team selection for the second straight season, while Larry Knight was an All-MAC third team honoree.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to lead this program,” Stripling said. “We want to make this a winning experience and have an enjoyable experience as well. This team has accomplished a lot already this season, and we are looking forward to achieving our goals of being bowl champions and finishing in the top 25.”
Prior to CMU, Stripling coached the defensive line at Michigan from 2005-07. He worked directly with defensive end LaMarr Woodley, a 2006 All-American who won the Lombardi Award and Ted Hendricks Trophy. Woodley also was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year in 2006. Tackle Alan Branch also earned All-Big Ten first team and All-America second team accolades under Stripling.
The 2006 Wolverines led the nation in rush defense, surrendering just 43.3 yards per game on the ground. Stripling was a part of Michigan teams that played in the Alamo Bowl, Rose Bowl and Capital One Bowl.
Stripling’s other Big Ten experience includes two seasons at Michigan State University (2003-04), four seasons at the University of Minnesota (1997-2000) and 13 seasons at Indiana University (1984-96). He was the defensive coordinator at Indiana in 1996.
Stripling worked directly with two All-Big Ten selections at Michigan State, two at Minnesota and seven at Indiana. He was part of the 2003 Alamo Bowl at Michigan State, the 1999 Sun Bowl and 2000 MicronPC.com Bowl at Minnesota and six bowl games at Indiana.
Stripling also spent four seasons at Northern Illinois University (1980-83) and two years at the University of Louisville (2001-02). He helped lead NIU to the 1983 Mid-American Conference championship and coached three all-conference selections at Louisville, including 2001 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Dewayne White.
Stripling earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Colorado. As a player, he was part of Colorado teams that played in three bowl games: the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl, 1972 Gator Bowl and 1975 Bluebonnet Bowl.
He signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons after graduating from Colorado in 1976. He spent the 1977-78 seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater before filling the role of recruiting coach at the University of North Carolina in 1979.
CMU is making its fourth straight bowl game appearance. The Chippewas defeated Ohio, 20-10, in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4 to capture their third MAC title in four seasons and seventh overall. The championship game victory moved CMU to No. 25 in the Associated Press poll, marking the first time CMU has been ranked in the top 25.
The Chippewas (11-2 overall, 8-0 MAC) close the season by taking on Sun Belt Conference champion Troy (9-3 overall, 8-0 Sun Belt) in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on Jan. 6. ESPN will televise the contest beginning at 6 p.m. Central Time.
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