Following the unexpected resignation of Greg Scruggs, Sherrone Moore hired a new defensive line coach and once again has a full staff. You can read the full release below.
J. Ira and Nikki Harris Family head football coach Sherone Moore announced Friday (March 29) the hiring of Lou Esposito as the team's defensive line coach. Esposito brings 21 years of college coaching experience to Ann Arbor.
“I'm excited to welcome Lou to our Michigan football family and look forward to having him lead our defensive linemen with his leadership and experience,” Coach Moore said. “Lou has a great defensive mind and has developed outstanding players and top units at the line of scrimmage throughout his coaching career. He will be a great resource and mentor to the young men in our program. I guess.”
Esposito joined the University of Memphis this offseason as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach after spending the previous 14 seasons at Michigan State. Most recently, Esposito served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Michigan for seven seasons (2017-23), working with the defensive line (2017-19) and ends (2020-23). This is his second stint with the Broncos, having first coached the defensive line from 2010 to 2012.
During his 10 years on the WMU staff, Esposito helped his players earn 32 All-MAC honors, including seven first-team honors and 12 second-team honors. Standout performers include future NFL players Paul Hazel (2010), Freddie Bishop (2012), Robert Spillane (2017), AJ Thomas (2021), Zaire Barnes (2022), and Braden Fisk (2022), 2019 All-American linebacker Treshaun Heyward (142 tackles, 3rd place, NCAA), 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Ali Fayad (13.0 sacks). He also coached an all-conference cast of defensive linemen Ralph Hawley, Marshawn Kneeland and Andre Carter.
Esposito made the defense more productive, especially in the trenches. The Broncos averaged 2.0 sacks per game before Esposito's arrival, but have averaged at least 2.3 sacks per game in five of the past six seasons, including 3.34 in 2021 (fourth in the nation). He improved the defense's TFL rating from 81st in the country before he took over to 5th. In 2020 (5.08 per game), the Broncos finished in the top 35 in the nation in five of the past six seasons. The 2019 Broncos defense had four players with at least 4.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss, and six defenders with at least 60 total tackles.
The Broncos participated in four bowl games during his tenure, including the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the 2019 First Responder Bowl, and the 2021 Played in the Quick Lane Bowl.
Prior to his time in Kalamazoo, Esposito served as the inaugural head coach of Davenport University's program (2014-16). He built a program from the ground up, recruiting more than 125 student-athletes in his two years and oversaw a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign for the football facility. At Davenport, the Panthers posted a 6-5 record in his inaugural season in 2016.
Esposito served as Ferris State's defensive coordinator in 2013. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. Prior to his arrival, the unit was 13th in rush defense. The program was ranked in the top 25 in two national polls, and the defense finished in the top five in many GLIAC statistical categories in 2013. Esposito has developed two NFL performers, coaching four-year NFL veterans linebacker Brady Sheldon and defensive tackle Justin. Zimmer played seven years in the NFL after being named an All-American twice.
In his first stop in Kalamazoo, Esposito coached the Broncos' defensive line (2010-12). He coached Drew Nowak, who was named the 2011 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in sacks. Nowak was named to the All-American team.
Esposito spent six years at Division II St. Joseph's (Ind.) University before accepting the position at WMU. He served as defensive coordinator in 2004 and then took the head coaching job for five seasons (2005-2009). At St. Joseph, Esposito was named Great Lakes Football Conference (GLFC) Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2009, leading the program to two league championships in both seasons. The program compiled a 30-25 record during his tenure and had a 100 percent graduation rate for four-year players in the years he led the program.
Esposito coached 23 All-GLFC student-athletes in 2009, ranking first in both rushing offense and defense. The Pumas also boasted the top-ranked red zone offense in the GLFC, were the 2009 GLFC Offensive Player of the Year, and had an impeccable performance in league play.
As a college player, Esposito was a four-year letterman on the offensive line at the University of Memphis. He was named team captain in his 1999 and his 2000 years. Esposito graduated from the University of Memphis in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
He signed a professional contract in 2001 with the Arena Football League's Memphis Explorers. He joined the coaching staff a year later in 2002 and he joined the coaching staff as offensive line and defensive line coach and special teams coordinator during the 2003 season.
Esposito and his wife Brooke have four children: Louis J. Esposito IV, Emilia Rose, Anthony, and Mason.
