Football
Zordich, Michael
Michael Zordich
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs
- E-Mail Address:
- zordi1m@cmich.edu
- Phone:
- (989) 774-3896
- Year at CMU:
- 5th year at CMU
- Hometown:
- Youngstown, Ohio
- Alma Mater/Year:
- Penn State/1986
- Experience:
- 21st year
Michael Zordich is in his fifth season as Central Michigan's defensive backs coach. In 2023, he was promoted to assistant head coach/defensive backs.
In 2023, safety Donte Kent earned Second Team All-MAC honors after making 58 tackles and leading the squad with seven pass breakups, while safety Trey Jones topped the Chippewas in tackles with 66.
The 2022 season saw Kent earn First Team All-MAC honors after he concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in pass defended (15, 1.4 per game). From his cornerback position, he finished the year with 51 tackles and a team-high 15 pass breakups.
In 2021, Zordich mentored a veteran defensive backfield group that included All-Mid-American Conference Second Team safety Devonni Reed, along with cornerback Kent, who was selected to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team. Kent went on to earn First Team All-MAC honors in 2022. Zordich's secondary played a key role in a Chippewa defense that ranked third overall in the MAC as CMU finished 9-4 and capped the season with a victory in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
Zordich, who was an All-American at Penn State in the early 1980s and played in the NFL for 12 seasons, arrived at CMU after serving six years (2015-20) as the defensive backs coach at Michigan. Zordich was an integral part of a Wolverine defense that twice (2016-17) ranked No. 1 nationally against the pass. The Wolverines ranked No. 2 nationally against the pass in 2018 and third in 2015. He coached three cornerbacks to All-America honors while at Michigan and a Wolverine cornerback was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award on three different occasions.
Zordich played safety in the NFL from 1987-98 for three different franchises: New York Jets (1987-88), Arizona Cardinals (1989-93), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98). He was drafted in the ninth round by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft. Over his NFL career, Zordich started 127 games out of 185 career contests, made 588 tackles, intercepted 20 passes (three touchdowns on interception returns) and totaled six sacks, six forced fumbles, and 11 fumble recoveries. He made a career-best 87 tackles in 1991 with Arizona and totaled four interceptions in both 1994 and 1996 with the Eagles.
After his NFL career, he then broke into coaching at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. He then returned to the NFL and spent four combined years with the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff as Defensive Quality Control Coach (2009-10) and Safeties Coach (2011-12) before moving to the collegiate ranks as Safeties Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator at Youngstown State.
As a collegiate player, Zordich helped guide Penn State to the 1982 national title and in 1985, he captained the Nittany Lions to a No. 3 national ranking.
Zordich resides with his family, wife Cynthia, sons Michael Jr. and Alex, and daughter Aiden. His son Michael Jr. played running back at Penn State and later for the Carolina Panthers, and his other son Alex played quarterback at Buffalo.
THE ZORDICH FILE
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Education
Bachelor of Science, Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, Penn State University, 1986
Coaching Career
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach, Central Michigan University, 2023-current
Defensive Backs Coach, Central Michigan University, 2021-22
Defensive Backs Coach, University of Michigan, 2015-20
Safeties Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Youngstown State University, 2014
Safeties Coach, Philadelphia Eagles, 2011-12
Defensive Quality Control Coach, Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-10
Defensive Assistant Coach, Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, Ohio, 2003-08
Playing Career
12-year NFL veteran for the New York Jets (1987-88), Arizona Cardinals (1989-93), and Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98) … Started 127 games at safety, played in 185 contests, made 588 total tackles and intercepted 20 passes in his 12-year NFL career … Four-year letterman and starter at Penn State from 1982-85 … Guided Penn State to the 1982 national title and Sugar Bowl win … Named All-American by the Football Writers Association of America in 1985 … Named co-captain as a senior in 1985 … Concluded his four-year career with 201 tackles while playing the team’s “hero” position.
In 2023, safety Donte Kent earned Second Team All-MAC honors after making 58 tackles and leading the squad with seven pass breakups, while safety Trey Jones topped the Chippewas in tackles with 66.
The 2022 season saw Kent earn First Team All-MAC honors after he concluded the year ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the MAC in pass defended (15, 1.4 per game). From his cornerback position, he finished the year with 51 tackles and a team-high 15 pass breakups.
In 2021, Zordich mentored a veteran defensive backfield group that included All-Mid-American Conference Second Team safety Devonni Reed, along with cornerback Kent, who was selected to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team. Kent went on to earn First Team All-MAC honors in 2022. Zordich's secondary played a key role in a Chippewa defense that ranked third overall in the MAC as CMU finished 9-4 and capped the season with a victory in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
Zordich, who was an All-American at Penn State in the early 1980s and played in the NFL for 12 seasons, arrived at CMU after serving six years (2015-20) as the defensive backs coach at Michigan. Zordich was an integral part of a Wolverine defense that twice (2016-17) ranked No. 1 nationally against the pass. The Wolverines ranked No. 2 nationally against the pass in 2018 and third in 2015. He coached three cornerbacks to All-America honors while at Michigan and a Wolverine cornerback was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award on three different occasions.
Zordich played safety in the NFL from 1987-98 for three different franchises: New York Jets (1987-88), Arizona Cardinals (1989-93), and the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98). He was drafted in the ninth round by the San Diego Chargers in the 1986 NFL Draft. Over his NFL career, Zordich started 127 games out of 185 career contests, made 588 tackles, intercepted 20 passes (three touchdowns on interception returns) and totaled six sacks, six forced fumbles, and 11 fumble recoveries. He made a career-best 87 tackles in 1991 with Arizona and totaled four interceptions in both 1994 and 1996 with the Eagles.
After his NFL career, he then broke into coaching at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio. He then returned to the NFL and spent four combined years with the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff as Defensive Quality Control Coach (2009-10) and Safeties Coach (2011-12) before moving to the collegiate ranks as Safeties Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator at Youngstown State.
As a collegiate player, Zordich helped guide Penn State to the 1982 national title and in 1985, he captained the Nittany Lions to a No. 3 national ranking.
Zordich resides with his family, wife Cynthia, sons Michael Jr. and Alex, and daughter Aiden. His son Michael Jr. played running back at Penn State and later for the Carolina Panthers, and his other son Alex played quarterback at Buffalo.
THE ZORDICH FILE
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Education
Bachelor of Science, Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, Penn State University, 1986
Coaching Career
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs Coach, Central Michigan University, 2023-current
Defensive Backs Coach, Central Michigan University, 2021-22
Defensive Backs Coach, University of Michigan, 2015-20
Safeties Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Youngstown State University, 2014
Safeties Coach, Philadelphia Eagles, 2011-12
Defensive Quality Control Coach, Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-10
Defensive Assistant Coach, Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown, Ohio, 2003-08
Playing Career
12-year NFL veteran for the New York Jets (1987-88), Arizona Cardinals (1989-93), and Philadelphia Eagles (1994-98) … Started 127 games at safety, played in 185 contests, made 588 total tackles and intercepted 20 passes in his 12-year NFL career … Four-year letterman and starter at Penn State from 1982-85 … Guided Penn State to the 1982 national title and Sugar Bowl win … Named All-American by the Football Writers Association of America in 1985 … Named co-captain as a senior in 1985 … Concluded his four-year career with 201 tackles while playing the team’s “hero” position.
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