Report: Mike MacIntyre is leading candidate to be named Memphis defensive coordinator

Former Ole Miss defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre is said to be a top target for the same role at Memphis, according to a report from Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports.

In his lone season with the Rebels, MacIntyre improved a unit that was ranked near the bottom nationally in several defensive categories in 2018. This season, Ole Miss ranked 42nd nationally in rushing defense, 59th in scoring defense and 85th in total defense.

Ole Miss went from allowing 36.2 points and 483.4 yards per game in 2018 to 26.5 points and 416.8 yards per game in 2019.

MacIntyre was not retained at Ole Miss by Lane Kiffin, who was named coach in December.

MacIntyre was the head coach at Colorado from 2013-18. In 2016, he was named Associated Press Coach of the Year when the Buffaloes won the Pac-12 South.

He was also defensive coordinator at Duke (2008-09) and head coach at San Jose State (2010-12).

If MacIntyre is hired, it would reunite him with former defensive backs coach Charles Clark, who is expected to be hired at Memphis in the same capacity. Clark worked with MacIntyre at San Jose State, Colorado and Ole Miss.

SOURCE: Barnes, Evan. "Report: Mike MacIntyre is leading candidate to be named Memphis defensive coordinator." Memphis Commercial Appeal, 8 January 2020, https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/2020/01/08/memphis-football-mike-macintyre-leading-candidate-defensive-coordinator-per-report/2845651001/