Greg Colby - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Greg Colby

Title:
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Email:
colby1g@cmich.edu
Phone:
(989) 774-3896

Greg Colby, a veteran with some 40 years in the college coaching business, is in his fourth year as Central Michigan’s defensive coordinator.

In 2017, Colby pulled the levers on a unit that was No. 1 against the pass in the Mid-American Conference, surrendering an average of 185.5 yards per game through the air. The Chippewas ranked fourth in the conference in total defense, and allowed an average of 5 yards per play, which was second best in the MAC.

The Chippewa secondary, led by Josh Cox, Amari Coleman and Sean Bunting, recorded 19 interceptions, which tied for the seventh most among Football Bowl Subdivision teams and co-led the MAC. Cox had six of those interceptions, tying for the second most in a season in CMU history. Coleman, a shutdown corner, was named First Team All-MAC for the second consecutive season.

Colby's defense forced 31 turnovers, leading the MAC and ranking third nationally in that category.

The CMU secondary's performance would have been possible if not for the work up front by a defensive line led by senior end Joe Ostman, a First Team All-MAC selection who led the nation in both total sacks (14) and sacks per game (1.27). Ostman's sack total is the second highest in a single season in CMU history.

Ostman finished the year with 20.5 tackles-for-loss, and he finished his career with 28 career sacks, which ranks second in program history. He also tied for fifth in the nation by forcing four fumbles in 2017.

Colby joined coach John Bonamego's staff prior to the 2015 season, and he immediately made an impact as his defense ranked second in the MAC and 16th among Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Bonamego nominated Colby for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant coach in college football.

Colby served as the defensive line coach at Illinois from 2012-14, as the defensive coordinator at Northwestern from 2002-07, and as the defensive coordinator at Kent State from 1998-2001. From 2008-12, Colby was the head coach at NCAA Division II Millersville (Pa.) University.

At Northwestern, Colby helped the Wildcats to three consecutive six-win seasons, the first time Northwestern had accomplished that feat in 70 years, along with berths in the Motor City Bowl (2003) and Sun Bowl (2005).

At Kent State, Colby’s 2001 defense was ranked third in the MAC as the Golden Flashes posted their first winning season in 14 years.

Colby held assistant-coaching posts at Michigan State and Illinois from 1988-97, serving primarily on the defensive side of the ball and as a special teams coordinator while working under the likes of head coaches Nick Saban, John Mackovic and Lou Tepper. He helped Michigan State to bowl appearances in all three seasons in which he served under Saban, and at Illinois, he helped the Illini to the Big Ten title in ’89 and six bowl berths.

Colby worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under head coach George Perles, helping the Spartans to the Big Ten championship in 1987 and to the Rose Bowl in ’88.

From 1974-86, Colby held a variety of coaching positions in several sports, including football, track and field, and baseball, at Naperville (Ill.) Central High School; Schlarman Academy in Danville, Ill.; the University of Illinois; and Marshall (Ill.) High School.

Colby earned a bachelor of science degree from Illinois in 1975 after spending three years as a starter on both the football and baseball teams. He was a two-time All-Stater in both sports at Danville High School.

Colby and his wife Janet have two sons, Matt and Mike.