Staff Directory
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Mike Hart
- Title:
- Running Backs
- Email:
- Phone:
- 6731
A Syracuse native and the University of Michigan’s all-time leading rusher, Mike Hart is in his first season as the Orange’s running backs coach. The former Onondaga Central High School star joined Dino Babers’ staff in January 2016.
Hart returned to Central New York after five years coaching in the Mid-American Conference, where he mentored three 1,000-yard rushers, two MAC Freshman of the Year award winners, and the 2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Hart broke into the coaching profession as a quality control assistant for offense at Eastern Michigan in 2011. He served as the running backs coach at EMU in 2012 and 2013 prior to a two-year stint at Western Michigan (2014-15).
At Western Michigan, Hart helped produce a pair of 1,000-yard rushers who both garnered MAC Freshman of the Year honors. With Hart’s tutelage, Jamauri Bogan was named the league’s top rookie in 2015 after rushing for 1,051 yards and finishing second in the MAC with 16 rushing touchdowns. The previous year, Hart protégé Jarvion Franklin gained 1,551 yards on the ground, the second-highest freshman total in the nation, and set the WMU single-season records for points (150) and rushing touchdowns (24). Franklin was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, MAC Offensive Player of the Year, and a USA Today Freshman All-American.
The Broncos earned consecutive bowl bids for the first time in school history with Hart on the staff. Western Michgian played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl after the 2014 season, and topped Middle Tennesse in the 2015 Bahmas Bowl to record the first bowl win in the history of the program.
In 2013 at Eastern Michigan, Hart oversaw an Eagles rushing attack that racked up 1,896 yards, the 12th-most in team history. Individually, running back Bronson Hill ranked 31st nationally in rushing, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and earned third-team All-MAC plaudits.
In 2012, Hart’s first year as a full-time assistant, EMU ran for 1,960 yards and 13 touchdowns as a team, the third consecutive season the Eagles topped 1,900 yards on the ground.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Hart spent three injury-shortened seasons in the NFL as a running back for the Indianapolis Colts. A sixth-round draft choice in 2008, Hart carried the ball a total of 71 times for 264 yards in his 21-game NFL career. His best season was in 2010 when he gained 185 yards on 43 carries.
A star at Michigan before being drafted by the Colts, Hart set school records for most career carries (1,015) and most rushing yards (5,040) as a four-year starter for the Wolverines. He finished his college career with 41 touchdowns, the third-most in U-M history. Hart ranks fourth in Big Ten Conference history in career rushing attempts and fifth in yards.
Hart broke onto the national scene in 2004, establishing the Michigan freshman rushing record with 1,455 yards on 282 carries and scoring nine touchdowns. It was the second-highest rookie rushing total in Big Ten history, and he became just the third true freshman to lead the conference in rushing, joining Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1996) and Darrel Thompson (Minnesota, 1986).
A two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, Hart finished fifth in the 2006 Heisman Trophy voting.
Hart graduated from Onondaga Central in 2004 after a decorated prep career in which he set the national record for career rushing touchdowns (204) and finished second in career rushing yards (11,045). The Tigers were 46-1 and won three state championships with Hart in the backfield.
Hart earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan in 2009. He and his wife, Monique, have two children.
THE HART FILE
Experience: 6th season/1st at Syracuse
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Michigan '09
Family: wife, Monique; two children
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: Michigan (2004-07)
Pro: Indianapolis Colts (2008-10)
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2015 Bahamas Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Eastern Michigan
Bronson Hill (New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals)
Darius Jackson (Dallas Cowboys)
Western Michigan
Jarvion Franklin (2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, 2014 MAC Rookie of the Year)
Jamauri Bogan (2015 MAC Freshman of the Year)
Hart returned to Central New York after five years coaching in the Mid-American Conference, where he mentored three 1,000-yard rushers, two MAC Freshman of the Year award winners, and the 2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Hart broke into the coaching profession as a quality control assistant for offense at Eastern Michigan in 2011. He served as the running backs coach at EMU in 2012 and 2013 prior to a two-year stint at Western Michigan (2014-15).
At Western Michigan, Hart helped produce a pair of 1,000-yard rushers who both garnered MAC Freshman of the Year honors. With Hart’s tutelage, Jamauri Bogan was named the league’s top rookie in 2015 after rushing for 1,051 yards and finishing second in the MAC with 16 rushing touchdowns. The previous year, Hart protégé Jarvion Franklin gained 1,551 yards on the ground, the second-highest freshman total in the nation, and set the WMU single-season records for points (150) and rushing touchdowns (24). Franklin was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, MAC Offensive Player of the Year, and a USA Today Freshman All-American.
The Broncos earned consecutive bowl bids for the first time in school history with Hart on the staff. Western Michgian played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl after the 2014 season, and topped Middle Tennesse in the 2015 Bahmas Bowl to record the first bowl win in the history of the program.
In 2013 at Eastern Michigan, Hart oversaw an Eagles rushing attack that racked up 1,896 yards, the 12th-most in team history. Individually, running back Bronson Hill ranked 31st nationally in rushing, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, and earned third-team All-MAC plaudits.
In 2012, Hart’s first year as a full-time assistant, EMU ran for 1,960 yards and 13 touchdowns as a team, the third consecutive season the Eagles topped 1,900 yards on the ground.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Hart spent three injury-shortened seasons in the NFL as a running back for the Indianapolis Colts. A sixth-round draft choice in 2008, Hart carried the ball a total of 71 times for 264 yards in his 21-game NFL career. His best season was in 2010 when he gained 185 yards on 43 carries.
A star at Michigan before being drafted by the Colts, Hart set school records for most career carries (1,015) and most rushing yards (5,040) as a four-year starter for the Wolverines. He finished his college career with 41 touchdowns, the third-most in U-M history. Hart ranks fourth in Big Ten Conference history in career rushing attempts and fifth in yards.
Hart broke onto the national scene in 2004, establishing the Michigan freshman rushing record with 1,455 yards on 282 carries and scoring nine touchdowns. It was the second-highest rookie rushing total in Big Ten history, and he became just the third true freshman to lead the conference in rushing, joining Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1996) and Darrel Thompson (Minnesota, 1986).
A two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, Hart finished fifth in the 2006 Heisman Trophy voting.
Hart graduated from Onondaga Central in 2004 after a decorated prep career in which he set the national record for career rushing touchdowns (204) and finished second in career rushing yards (11,045). The Tigers were 46-1 and won three state championships with Hart in the backfield.
Hart earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan in 2009. He and his wife, Monique, have two children.
THE HART FILE
Experience: 6th season/1st at Syracuse
Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Michigan '09
Family: wife, Monique; two children
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
College: Michigan (2004-07)
Pro: Indianapolis Colts (2008-10)
| COACHING LEDGER | ||
| 2011 | Quality Control Coach | Eastern Michigan |
| 2012-13 | Running Backs | Eastern Michigan |
| 2014-15 | Running Backs | Western Michigan |
| 2016-present | Running Backs | Syracuse |
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
2015 Bahamas Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
Eastern Michigan
Bronson Hill (New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals)
Darius Jackson (Dallas Cowboys)
Western Michigan
Jarvion Franklin (2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, 2014 MAC Rookie of the Year)
Jamauri Bogan (2015 MAC Freshman of the Year)
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