Veteran defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, who has won 393 games as a college assistant coach and coordinator, recently concluded his 12th season with the Wildcats and his 51st college season overall. He began his Northwestern tenure Jan. 18, 2008.
Hakwitz's 2019 defense ranked No. 25 in the country for total defense. Senior Joe Gaziano capped his Northwestern career by matching a personal-best nine sacks to become the Wildcats' all-time leader with 30 in his career. Gaziano earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. Blake Gallagher led Northwestern in tackles for the second consecutive season with 91. Heading into the 2020, senior Paddy Fisher, who was earned preseason All-American honors (Athlon/Phil Steele) is the nation's active leader in forced fumbles with 10.
In 2018, Hankwitz’s defense that helped lead to a BIg Ten West title was tied for third in the nation in fumbles recovered with 14 and were the least penalized unit in country. They were also a national top-15 unit in total turnovers. He also helped guide six ‘Cats to All-Big Ten honors, including sophomore linebacker Paddy Fisher and senior defensive back Montre Hartage earning first team distinctions.
During the 2017 campaign, Hankwitz’s defensive unit was ranked 9th best in the country in rushing defense, 10th best in red zone defense and 20th best in scoring defense. Godwin Igwebuike was named a consensus Second-Team All-Big Ten selection, while redshirt first-year linebacker Paddy Fisher and sophomore defensive end Joe Gaziano were voted to the second team by the media and third team by the league's coaches. Fisher was also named the Big Ten Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Big Ten Network. Senior safety Kyle Queiro was named a consensus third-team selection. Senior defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster, junior linebacker Nate Hall, first-year defensive end Samdup Miller also received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the coaches and media.
Hankwitz immediately had a measurable impact in his first season in Evanston, making the Wildcats' defense the fifth-most improved unit in the nation in the 2008 campaign. After allowing 31.0 points per game in 2007, Northwestern surrendered just 20.15 in 2008 to rank 27th in the country and fourth in the Big Ten. The Wildcats also ranked in the top-30 nationally in sacks (18th), pass efficiency defense (25th) and tackles for loss (28th).
The Wildcats posted 20 defensive shutout quarters on the year and held four opponents to under 100 yards rushing -- including a school-record 4-yard performance against Ohio. In the 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl, Northwestern's defense held Missouri, which touted one of the nation's most potent offenses, to 286 yards of total offense and 17 points through four quarters of play (Missouri came into the game averaging 497.5 yards of offense per game and 43.2 ppg). The Wildcats eventually fell 30-23 in overtime to the Tigers.
Hankwitz's 2009 defense was turnover-oriented, ranking 11th nationally with 30 takeaways. That number was comprised of 17 interceptions (16th in the country) and 13 fumble recoveries (21st). In 2010, NU limited half of its regular-season opponents to 105 total rushing yards or less while holding two foes to under 50 yards passing. Northwestern's defense also did a great job getting off the field, ranking third in the Big Ten with a 36.1 percent opponent's third-down conversion rate. Four members of his defense earned All-Big Ten awards, led by second-team honorees (media) Brian Peters and Vince Browne.
Hankwitz's defense made great strides over the back half of the 2011 season, highlighted by its effort in a road upset of No. 9 Nebraska on Nov. 5. NU limited the Huskers to a season-low 122 yards rushing -- 101 yards below their final season average -- and forced two turnovers. It also marked the first of three straight games in which the 'Cat defense held an opponent to three points or fewer in a half. Hankwitz' safeties each earned extensive postseason recognition, with Peters garnering first-team All-Big Ten honors (media) and Ibraheim Campbell being named a Freshman All-American by numerous outlets.
In 2012, Hankwitz oversaw a defense that was vastly improved from a year prior, ranking No. 3 in the Big Ten in rushing defense and holding eight of NU's 13 opponents to 20 points or fewer. The 'Cats thrived at creating timely turnovers, with NU leading the Big Ten in turnover margin (+13) and tied for fifth in the nation in fumbles recovered (16).
Hankwitz' unit also made its mark with late-game stands in 2012, preventing possible go-ahead, fourth-quarter drives against Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Minnesota and Michigan State as well as in NU's landmark Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl win. Hankwitz' unit recorded four takeaways against Mississippi State -- the third straight game to close the year it had four takeaways -- to deflate their SEC opponent and secure a bowl victory for the 'Cats.
The Wildcats defense picked up in 2013 where it left off the previous year, posting two INT returns for touchdowns in the season-opener at Cal and ranking among the FBS leaders with 19 total picks on the season, one shy of the school record.
The Northwestern defense grew as a unit in 2014, led by Ibraheim Campbell, who earned All-Big Ten second team honors from the league's coaches, and Nick VanHoose, who received an All-Big Ten second team nod from the media. Campbell would go on to be selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. In the upset over Penn State, the defense tied a season-high for sacks (4) and set a season-high for tackles-for-loss (9). The Wildcats also set a season record in the victory over Wisconsin, recording four interceptions, including three by Godwin Igwebuike.
In 2015, Hankwitz put together a truly formidable defensive unit that was ranked 13th best in the country in yards allowed per game and 12th in points allowed per game. The Wildcats posted two shutouts and held opponents to 14 points or fewer seven times on the season. Anthony Walker Jr. was named to the All-Big Ten first team, while Dean Lowry and Nick VanHoose made the All-Big Ten Second team. Dean Lowry was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, while Deonte Gibson and Traveon Henry also signed as free agents with the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively.
The following season in 2016, Hankwitz’s defense was ranked 30th in the country in rushing defense, allowing just over 139 yards per game along with scoring defense in which they ranked 22nd best in the country. Ifeadi Odenigbo earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior after leading the league with 10 sacks, finishing his career second in program history with 23.5 career sacks. Walker and Igwebuike were named to the second team by the league's coaches and third team by the media. Walker finished with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons as he ranks 12th in the league with 105 tackles along with 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Following the season, Walker was selected with the 161st pick overall in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts, Odenigbo was picked by the Minnesota Vikings with the 201st pick overall in the seventh round, while Joe Jones signed as an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
Hankwitz began coaching in the college ranks in 1970 as a graduate assistant at Michigan, his alma mater, and has worked every year since then at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) institution. He has served as a defensive coordinator at seven different schools (Western Michigan, Colorado [two times], Kansas, Texas A&M, Arizona, Wisconsin and Northwestern) since 1982.
Hankwitz spent two years as the Badgers' defensive coordinator, touting one of the nation's best defenses in 2006. Wisconsin was No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (84.19 rating, third-lowest in Big Ten history), No. 2 in scoring defense (12.1 ppg) and No. 5 in total defense (253.1 ypg). The Badgers limited six of their opponents to 10 points or less and allowed just three foes to reach the 20-point mark. In two years with the Badgers, Hankwitz coached 13 players who received at least honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
Prior to Wisconsin, Hankwitz spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Colorado. He served as the program's interim head coach for the Buffaloes' 2005 Champs Sports Bowl game against Clemson. CU won the Big 12 North Division title in both 2004 and 2005. Hankwitz had moved to Colorado after serving as Arizona's defensive coordinator (and later interim head coach) in 2003.
Before his stint at Arizona, Hankwitz was the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach (he also coached inside linebackers and punters) at Texas A&M (1997-2002) where he guided the Aggies' famed "Wrecking Crew" defense. During that span he had three top-10 ranked defenses, two top-20 defenses, won two South Division titles and one Big 12 championship. Among Hankwitz's standout players at Texas A&M was Dat Nguyen, who won the Lombardi and Bednarik Awards, as well as being named Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.
Hankwitz spent two seasons (1995-96) as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for head coach Glen Mason at Kansas. The 1995 Jayhawks recorded the school's first 10-win season since 1905, played in the Aloha Bowl and ranked 10th in the final national polls.
Hankwitz enjoyed a highly successful 10-year run in his first tenure with Colorado (1985-94). After coaching outside linebackers and punters his first three years with the Buffs, he was named the program's defensive coordinator in 1988. Colorado put together the nation's fifth-best record (58-11-4) from 1989-94, including a national title in 1990, three Big 8 titles, two appearances each in the Orange and Fiesta Bowls, and six national top-20 rankings (including three top-five finishes). The Buffs' 1989 and 1991 teams set the school record for fewest points allowed (150) in a season. Among Hankwitz's standout players at CU were Jim Thorpe Award winners Deon Figures (1992) and Chris Hudson (1994), and Butkus Award winner Alfred Williams (1990).
Hankwitz was defensive coordinator (with additional responsibilities for the secondary, punters and punt team) at Western Michigan from 1982-84. The 1982 WMU defense allowed only 72 points, the fewest in Division I-A or I-AA. He was the outside linebackers and punting coach at Purdue from 1977-81. Prior to his time at Purdue, Hankwitz was the outside linebackers and secondary coach (along with punt return/punt rush) at Arizona from 1973-76.
Hankwitz began his coaching career as a graduate assistant (1970-72) at Michigan under head coach Bo Schembechler. As a defensive G.A., Hankwitz helped the Wolverines to two Big Ten titles, a 30-3 record, three top-10 national rankings and a 1971 Rose Bowl appearance. As a player at Michigan, he earned three letters and started on the 1969 Big Ten championship squad that played in the Rose Bowl. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in education.
Teams for which Hankwitz has coached have had a winning record in 42 of his 49 years. Eleven of those clubs won conference championships and 12 more were league runners-up. He has coached in 32 bowl games, including every major New Year's Day bowl game -- Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Outback Bowl, Capital One Bowl and Gator Bowl.
In his 34 years as a defensive coordinator, his defense has ranked in the nation's top 25 on 14 occasions. As coordinator, his teams have 38 wins over ranked programs, including eight wins over top-five clubs and two wins over No. 1-ranked teams.
Hankwitz also has coached 14 first-team All-Americans (including four straight punters at Colorado), five conference defensive players of the year, 50 first-team all-conference choices and 16 team MVP's. As a coordinator, Hankwitz has won 235 games and seven championships, and overall has won 354 games (354-178-7, .675) as a college coach (including his three years as a G.A. at Michigan).
He was born in Ludington, Mich., and graduated from Mason County (Scottville, Mich.) Central High School, where he lettered in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. He and his wife, Cathy, have one son, Jacob.