Utah State University Athletics

Mike Zuckerman is in his third season at Utah State and first as the linebackers coach after coaching the inside linebackers his first two seasons. In his 10 years as a collegiate coach, Zuckerman has coached in 10 bowl games and been a part of one conference championship.

During the 2022 campaign, Zuckerman helped Utah State to six wins and its 10th bowl game in the past 12 seasons, including its second in as many years as it appeared in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. USU also tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark. 

Overall, the Aggie defense ranked 11th in the nation in tackles for loss (7.2 pg) and 31st in passing (205.0 ypg) in 2022, led by AJ Vongphachanh’s team-best 101 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss, which were the second-most on the team. Additionally, inside linebacker MJ Tafisi earned honorable mention all-MW honors under Zuckerman, while Max Alford was named the MW Freshman of the Week once.

In 2021, Utah State had its best season in school history as it tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 road win at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.

Utah State’s defense held each of its final three opponents to 13 or fewer points, doing so for the first time since 1983, and five of its last six opponents to 17 or fewer points.

Utah State’s defense finished tied for second in the nation with 114.0 tackles for loss, which is tied for the second-most in school history. And, USU limited its opponents to just 22 touchdowns on 51 trips into the red zone (.431), which ranked 10th nationally.

Additionally, Utah State’s defense ranked fourth in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage (.250), eighth with 11 forced fumbles and 27th in third down conversion percentage (.346).

Under Zuckerman, Utah State’s Justin Rice was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week twice and was named to the league’s second team at season’s end.

Zuckerman arrived at Utah State after spending seven seasons (2014-20) in various roles for the Miami Hurricanes. Zuckerman was a senior quality control analyst for defense during the 2019 and 2020 campaigns. He also spent two seasons (2017-18) as a quality control analyst and was a graduate assistant the previous three seasons (2014-16).

During the 2020 campaign, Zuckerman helped a Hurricanes defense that led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in yards per pass attempt (6.75) and ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss (8.6 pg), 16th in fumbles recovered (9) and 33rd in sacks (2.73 pg). Miami finished the season with an 8-3 record, including a 7-2 ACC mark, and played in the Cheez-It Bowl.

In 2019, Zuckerman helped a Miami defense that ranked 13th nationally in total defense (309.8 yapg) and 12th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.7). In addition, the Hurricanes ranked fourth nationally in tackles for loss (8.3 pg), sixth in sacks (3.54 pg), 17th in run defense (114.6 yapg) and 18th in pass defense (195.2 yapg).

In 2018, the Hurricanes ranked fourth nationally in total defense (278.9 yapg) and ranked No. 1 in several categories, including tackles for loss (10.5 pg), third down conversion percentage (.253) and passing defense (135.6 yapg).

The Hurricanes ranked among the nation’s leaders in several defensive categories in 2017, including first in team sacks (3.38 pg), third in turnovers gained (31), fourth in tackles for loss (8.5 pg), ninth in opponent yards per play (4.3), 15th in passes intercepted (17) and 16th in passing yards allowed per attempt (5.56).

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Miami was ranked 20th nationally in total defense (345.5 yapg), ninth in yards per play (4.8), 12th in scoring defense (18.5 ppg), fifth in tackles for loss (8.3 pg), 22nd in team sacks (2.85 pg) and tied for eighth in defensive touchdowns allowed. The Hurricanes also ranked 12th nationally in passing yards allowed per attempt (6.30).

Zuckerman returned to Miami after spending nearly two years as a member of the Rutgers coaching staff. He was a player development assistant in 2013 and was elevated to graduate assistant in 2014 before leaving for Miami.

Prior to Rutgers, Zuckerman spent three years working as a student with the Hurricanes. He earned his start as a volunteer operations assistant before serving as a volunteer offensive assistant for Miami.

Zuckerman got his start in coaching at New Rochelle (New York) High School in 2008, working with the offensive and defensive lines as an assistant coach.

Zuckerman earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Miami in business administration and sports administration, respectively, in 2012 and 2016.

Zuckerman was a four-year member of the New Rochelle HS football team, including serving as captain as a senior.

 
MIKE ZUCKERMAN FILE
Coaching History                                                                                                                           
2023-               Utah State – Linebackers
2021-22           Utah State – Inside Linebackers
2019-20           Miami (FL) – Senior Quality Control Analyst
2017-18           Miami (FL) – Quality Control Analyst
2014-16           Miami (FL) – Defensive Graduate Assistant
2013                Rutgers – Development Assistant
2010-12           Miami (FL) – Student Assistant
2008                New Rochelle (N.Y.) HS – Offense & Defensive Lines
 
Bowl Games (10)                                                                                                         
Utah State (2): 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl; 2021 LA Bowl
Miami (8): 2020 Cheez-It Bowl; 2019 Independence Bowl; 2018 Pinstripe Bowl; 2017 Orange Bowl; 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl; 2015 Sun Bowl; 2014 Independence Bowl; 2013 Pinstripe Bowl

Conference Championships (1)                                                                                                         
Utah State (1): Mountain West, 2021

Education                                                                                                                                         
2016                Miami (FL) – Sports Administration (M.S.)
2012                Miami (FL) – Business Administration (B.S.)