Central Michigan: a football coaching history
See Central Michigan’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 1975–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2019–2024
Jim McElwain Steady
Jim McElwain slid the Chippewas from Regional Program III to Regional Program IV in 6 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−0.8 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 40% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Chan Gailey’s Georgia Tech run (2002–2007)
7th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed John Bonamego (2015–2018) · succeeded by Matt Drinkall (2025–now).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 8-6 | 3-3 | 9-4 | 4-8 | 5-7 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #104 | #123 | #86 | #84 | #91 | #106 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 47.5 | 40.0 | 46.3 | 46.7 | 41.6 | 40.3 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||
| OC | Charlie Frye | Charlie Frye | Kevin Barbay | Paul Petrino | Paul Petrino | Jim Chapin | |
| DC | Robb Akey | Robb Akey | Robb Akey | Robb Akey | Robb Akey | Robb Akey | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 63 | 44 | 48 | 28 | 42 | 21 | |
| Defense | 64 | 67 | 81 | 58 | 8 | 46 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 46.7 | 39.6 | 43.5 | 39.2 | 41.1 | 36.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 34.1 | 27.0 | 39.3 | 44.4 | 38.8 | 33.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 46.5 | 45.2 | 35.7 | 52.3 | 40.6 | 48.6 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+4.0 pts
#91 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+15.2 pts
#47 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
13
2.8★ avg rating
Portal departures
62
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-49
#177 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 218 lbs
across 9 of 13 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+9.8 lbs
#22 of 255 · top quarter
Avg. class year
Jr
#6 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: MI (5), GA (2), WA (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
36.7
position-weighted
Talent lost
52.4
position-weighted
Net
-15.7
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Joe Labas (QB) from Iowa
Biggest loss: Jase Bauer (QB) to Sam Houston
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Charlie Frye → Kevin Barbay · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 39.6% → 43.5% (+3.9 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 77% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Kevin Barbay → Paul Petrino · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 43.5% → 39.2% (-4.3 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 67% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Paul Petrino → Jim Chapin · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 41.1% → 36.7% (-4.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 52% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
215 lbs
6′1″ avg · #315 of 767 · middle half
Running back
213 lbs
5′10″ avg · #167 of 791 · top quarter
Wide receiver
196 lbs
6′1″ avg · #260 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
246 lbs
6′3″ avg · #325 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
298 lbs
6′5″ avg · #727 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
274 lbs
6′3″ avg · #584 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
232 lbs
6′1″ avg · #217 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
193 lbs
6′0″ avg · #227 of 771 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Linebacker from high school
80%
#170 of 225 stints
Postseason detail2019: Lost to San Diego State 11-48 New Mexico Bowl2021: Beat Washington State 24-21 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
4 NFL Draft picks: Luke Goedeke (2022), Bernhard Raimann (2022), Lew Nichols III (2023), Donte Kent (2025)
−0.8
33-36
2015–2018
John Bonamego Steady
John Bonamego slid the Chippewas from Regional Program III to Regional Program II in 4 seasons.
2018 offense ranked in the 0th percentile nationally — historically bad
−3.9 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 43% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Tommy Tuberville’s Ole Miss run (1995–1998)
6th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Dan Enos (2010–2014) · succeeded by Jim McElwain (2019–2024).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 7-6 | 6-7 | 8-5 | 1-11 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #97 | #107 | #93 | #119 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 54.1 | 53.6 | 50.8 | 44.8 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | Morris Watts | Morris Watts | Chris Ostrowsky | Chris Ostrowsky | |
| DC | Greg Colby | Greg Colby | Greg Colby | Greg Colby | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 41 | 29 | 27 | 0 | |
| Defense | 61 | 42 | 80 | 79 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 51.9 | 51.0 | 46.0 | 38.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 48.6 | 39.4 | 38.1 | 32.2 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 23.1 | 22.2 | 25.9 | 24.1 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-18.6 pts
#174 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
+21.8 pts
#28 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Morris Watts → Chris Ostrowsky · 2017The offense slipped
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 51.4% → 42.1% (-9.3 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 65% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2015: Lost to Minnesota 14-21 Quick Lane Bowl2016: Lost to Tulsa 10-55 Miami Beach Bowl2017: Lost to Wyoming 14-37 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
4 NFL Draft picks: Kavon Frazier (2016), Tyler Conklin (2018), Sean Bunting (2019), Xavier Crawford (2019)
−3.9
22-29
2010–2014
Dan Enos Steady
Dan Enos slid Central Michigan from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 5 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−2.8 pts over 5 seasons · top 48% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mick Dennehy’s Utah State run (2000–2004)
5th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Butch Jones (2007–2009) · succeeded by John Bonamego (2015–2018).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 3-9 | 3-9 | 7-6 | 6-6 | 7-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | W bowl | — | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #106 | #93 | #90 | #104 | #115 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | 55.5 | 57.9 | 49.9 | 45.8 | 43.1 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | — | — | — | — | Morris Watts | |
| DC | — | — | — | — | Joe Tumpkin | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | 49 | 38 | 49 | 32 | 69 | |
| Defense | 58 | 25 | 18 | 48 | 59 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 48.0 | 51.5 | 41.3 | 42.2 | 37.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 44.6 | 50.0 | 44.1 | 35.8 | 29.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 44.2 | 26.5 | 30.3 | 26.9 | 34.3 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2012: Beat Western Kentucky 24-21 Little Caesars Bowl2014: Lost to Western Kentucky 48-49 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
2 NFL Draft picks: Eric Fisher (2013), L.T. Walton (2015)
−2.8
26-36
2007–2009
Butch Jones Steady
Butch Jones moved the Chippewas from Regional Program IV to Regional Program II in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+6.0 pts over 3 seasons · top 12% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Gary Crowton’s Louisiana Tech run (1996–1998)
4th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Brian Kelly (2004–2006) · succeeded by Dan Enos (2010–2014).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 8-6 | 8-5 | 11-2 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #106 | #101 | #76 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 51.8 | 49.8 | 48.2 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 82 | 78 | 94 | |
| Defense | 47 | 18 | 51 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 47.8 | 48.3 | 51.1 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 37.0 | 44.6 | 50.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 31.2 | 26.9 | 13.5 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2007: Lost to Purdue 48-51 Bowl2008: Lost to Florida Atlantic 21-24 Bowl
2 NFL Draft picks: Dan LeFevour (2010), Antonio Brown (2010)
+6.0
27-13
2004–2006
Brian Kelly Steady
Brian Kelly moved Central Michigan from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+7.9 pts over 3 seasons · top 8% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Dirk Koetter’s Boise State run (1998–2000)
8th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Mike DeBord (2000–2003) · succeeded by Butch Jones (2007–2009).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 4-7 | 6-5 | 9-4 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #107 | #104 | #110 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 45.6 | 49.5 | 51.4 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 61 | 54 | 81 | |
| Defense | 47 | 89 | 37 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 44.4 | 51.7 | 45.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | 52.5 | 51.0 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | 34.0 | 29.7 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
5 NFL Draft picks: Eric Ghiaciuc (2005), Adam Kieft (2005), Joe Staley (2007), Dan Bazuin (2007), Drew Mormino (2007)
+7.9
19-16
2000–2003
Mike DeBord Steady
Mike DeBord slid Central Michigan from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 4 seasons.
−5.7 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 32% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Carl Torbush’s North Carolina run (1998–2000)
9th-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Dick Flynn (1994–1999) · succeeded by Brian Kelly (2004–2006).
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Tackle from high school
100%
#198 of 223 stints
−5.7
12-34
1994–1999
Dick Flynn Steady
Dick Flynn slid Central Michigan from Regional Program I to Regional Program IV in 6 seasons.
−10.1 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 5% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Bill Curry’s Kentucky run (1990–1996)
3rd-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Herb Deromedi (1978–1993) · succeeded by Mike DeBord (2000–2003).
| Season | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 9-3 | 4-7 | 5-6 | 2-9 | 6-5 | 4-7 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1994: Lost to UNLV 24-52 Bowl
1 NFL Draft pick: Scott Rehberg (1997)
−10.1
30-37
1978–1993
Herb Deromedi Steady
Herb Deromedi slid Central Michigan from National Program II to Regional Program I in 16 seasons.
−8.7 pts over 16 seasons · bottom 5% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Rick Stockstill’s Middle Tennessee run (2006–2023)
1st-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Roy Kramer (1975–1977) · succeeded by Dick Flynn (1994–1999).
| Season | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||
| Record | 9-2 | 10-0-1 | 9-2 | 7-4 | 6-4-1 | 8-3 | 8-2-1 | 7-3 | 5-5 | 5-5-1 | 7-4 | 5-5-1 | 8-3-1 | 6-1-4 | 5-6 | 5-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | L bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1990: Lost to San José State 24-48 Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Gary Hogeboom (1980), Jim Bowman (1985), Brian Williams (1987)
−8.7
110-55-10
1975–1977
Roy Kramer Steady
Roy Kramer held the Chippewas at National Program II for 3 seasons.
2nd-best Central Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Herb Deromedi (1978–1993).
National Program II
25-7-1