Position: Defensive line coach Role American football player Name Mike Trgovac | College: Michigan Place of birth: Youngstown, Ohio | |
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Date of birth: (1959-02-27) February 27, 1959 (age 56) Education University of Michigan, Austintown-Fitch High School | ||
Packers D-Line shedding and tackling
Michael John Trgovac ( ; born February 27, 1959) is an American football coach and a former player. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Trgovac played college football as a middle guard for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He received All-Big Ten Conference honors in both 1979 and 1980. After graduating from Michigan, Trgovac held various college coaching positions from 1984 to 1994. Since 1995, he has held multiple coaching positions in the National Football League (NFL), including serving as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2003 to 2008 and defensive line coach of the Green Bay Packers since 2009. He was a member of the Packers' coaching staff that led the team to the NFL championship in Super Bowl XLV in 2011.
Contents
- Packers D Line shedding and tackling
- Early years
- University of Michigan
- College coaching
- NFL coach
- References
Early years
Trgovac was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1958. He became an all-state defensive lineman at Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio. He was named defensive lineman of the year in 1976 and also won the state wrestling title. He is of Croatian ancestry and his surname means "Trader" in the Croatian language.
University of Michigan
Trgovac enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1977 and played college football at the middle guard position for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1977 to 1980. As a sophomore in 1978, he started six games for the Wolverines and received the John F. Maulbetsch Award (presented to a football underclassman for desire, character, capacity for leadership and future success both on and off the football field).
As a junior, Trgovac started 11 games at middle guard for the 1979 Michigan team, won the Frederick Matthei Award, and was selected as a first-team player on the 1979 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
As a senior, Trgovac again started 11 of 12 games at middle guard for the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10-2 record, finished #4 in the AP and UPI polls, and outscored opponents 322 to 129. Trgovac was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player for the second consecutive year.
College coaching
Following his graduation from Michigan, Trgovac became a graduate assistant under Schembechler in the 1984 and 1985 seasons with fellow GAs Cam Cameron and Bill Sheridan. From 1986 to 1988 he coached the defensive line at Ball State. Following a one-year stint with Navy, he joined former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce's staff at Colorado State as defensive line coach. He ended his college coaching career with three seasons on Lou Holtz's staff at Notre Dame.
NFL coach
Trgovac served as the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-1998. In 1998, the Eagles finished third in the NFL in sack percentage and first overall against the pass. Trgovac's 1995 line recorded an NFL-best 42.5 sacks. He spent the 1999 season with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Washington Redskins for two seasons. He helped guide a Redskins defense that ranked fourth in the NFL and first in the NFC in 2000.
Following the 2001 season, Trgovac joined the Carolina Panthers. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2003 season. Since Trgovac joined Carolina in 2002, the Panthers rank fifth in total yards allowed, trailing only Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Denver. They are also sixth in first downs allowed and rushing yards allowed per attempt, ninth in rushing yards allowed per game and 10th in third down efficiency. After turning down a contract offer from the Panthers, Trgovac informed Head Coach John Fox and General Manager Marty Hurney that he was leaving the team. He soon joined the Green Bay Packers as a defensive line coach.