The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Football Names Curt Mallory Defensive Coordinator
January 14 | Football
AKRON - Former Mid-American Conference and Big Ten assistant coach Curt Mallory had been named University of Akron defensive coordinator, Zips head football coach Rob Ianello announced today.
Malory, who will coach the Zips' cornerbacks, comes to Akron after six seasons at the University of Illinois, including three as co-defensive coordinator.
"Curt has one of the finest pedigrees in college football," Ianello said. "To say he comes from a football family is an understatement. I have competed against Curt and have seen his work up close. Fans of Akron football are in for a treat. He is an excellent teacher and he will bring great passion to work every day. It speaks volumes for the direction of Akron Football that Curt has decided to join Zip football family as we build a program of which we can all be proud."
In addition to being the Illini's co-defensive coordinator, along with Dan Disch, Mallory directed the Illinois secondary from 2005-09. Headlining his time at Illinois was Mallory tutoring a defensive backfield that featured All-American cornerback and NFL first-rounder Vontae Davis.
In 2008, the Illinois defense held opponents to just 350 yards per game and led the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss per game. Mallory's secondary shone behind veteran corner Davis, who was semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award for a second time in his career. He additionally was tabbed All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors as he finished second on the team in tackles.
Under Mallory's tutelage in 2007, the Illini defense allowed fewer than 20 points per game and forced more turnovers than in 2006. In addition, Mallory guided an Illini secondary led by safety Kevin Mitchell and Davis. Both were among the Big Ten's top defensive backs in interceptions and passes defended. Davis also earned first team All-Big Ten honors in addition to being a Thorpe Award semifinalist.
In 2006, Mallory helped lead an improved defensive secondary which featured honorable mention All-Big Ten selection Alan Ball and true-freshman Davis, who earned Freshman All-America honors from three different media outlets, at the cornerback position. As a unit, the defensive backs allowed 182.2 yards passing per game, which ranked second just behind Wisconsin in the Big Ten.
That number was an improvement of over 53 yards from Illinois' 2005 per game average. Opponent quarterbacks averaged only 6.5 yards per pass attempt and scored just 11 touchdowns through the air on the Illini in 12 games, less than one per contest. Ball finished the year with 11 passes broken up, which ranked third in the Big Ten and put him on Illinois' single-season (5th) and career (8th) list. He also was selected in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, by the Dallas Cowboys.
In 2004, Mallory completed his third season at Indiana University, where he served as secondary coach for the Hoosiers. During that time, safety Herana-Daze Jones earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2004 and was an honorable mention selection in 2003. He also coached strong safety Will Meyers to freshman All-America honors by the Sporting News. His secondary in 2002 ranked 33rd nationally in pass defense.
Prior to joining the Hoosier staff, Mallory coached the defensive backs at Central Michigan in 2001 and at Ball State in 2000. He was the linebackers coach at Ball State for four seasons from 1995-99, when the defense ranked among the top three in the Mid-American Conference in four of the five years. In 1995 and 1996 the Ball State teams posted winning records, earning a berth in the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl.
Mallory began his career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Michigan, in 1992, but then coached under his father, the legendary Bill Mallory, as a graduate assistant at Indiana 1993-94. During his first stint as a Hoosier, he gained experience working with both the linebackers and defensive backs on two Indiana squads posting winning records.
Mallory was a two-year letterwinner (1989-90) at the University of Michigan and was part of five Big Ten Championship teams (four as a player, one as a student assistant in 1992). In 1989, the Wolverines posted a 10-2 record and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl. The 1990 team defeated Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, a game in which Mallory recorded a key interception.
He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management/communications from UM in 1992, and earned a master's degree in outdoor recreation from Indiana University in 1999.
Mallory and his wife, Lori, have two sons, James and Sam, and a daughter, Margo.
MALLORY YEAR-BY-YEAR
2010-pres. University of Akron (defensive coordinator/cornerbacks)
2007-09 University of Illinois (co-defensive coordinator/defensive secondary)
2005-06 University of Illinois (defensive secondary)
2002-04 Indiana University (defensive secondary)
2001 Central Michigan University (defensive secondary)
2000 Ball State University (defensive secondary)
1995-99 Ball State University (linebackers)
1993-94 Indiana University (graduate assistant)
1992 University of Michigan (student assistant)
THE MALLORY FILE
Hometown: Bloomington, Ind.
Birthdate: May 9, 1969
Family: Wife, Lori; Sons, James, Sam; Daughter, Margo
Education: B.S., Sports Management/ Communications - Michigan, 1992
M.S., Outdoor Recreation -Indiana, 1999
Playing Experience: Michigan, 1989-90
Bowl Games: Rose Bowl, 2008; Las Vegas Bowl, 1996; Independence Bowl, 1993;
Rose Bowl, 1993; Rose Bowl, 1990 *; Gator Bowl, 1991*
* as a player
