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Princeton University Athletics
Bob Surace Announces New Hirings For 2016 Football Coaching Staff
March 25, 2016 | Football
As his squad hits the midway point of its spring practice season, Charles W. Caldwell Jr. '25 Head Coach of Football Bob Surace announced two new hires for his 2016 coaching staff. Mike Mendenhall will serve as assistant linebackers coach, while Mike Willis '14 will serve as tight ends coach.
Mendenhall comes to Princeton after five years as the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at North Carolina Central. The Eagles are coming off an 8-3 season, and they shared the conference title with a season-ending 21-16 win over 13th-ranked North Carolina A&T. It marked the third straight season where NCCU improved by at least one win over the previous season.
Mendenhall was a four-year starter for the Owls (2002-05), starting 33 games as a defensive end. He was a first team all-Big East selection as a junior in 2004. As a senior in 2005, Mendenhall was a preseason honorable mention All-America and on the Watch List for the Lombardi Award (top lineman).
He went on to appear in one preseason game for the Chicago Bears in 2006. In 2007, he played middle linebacker for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe.
Mendenhall, an all-state football player at Paulsboro and a New Jersey state finalist in wrestling, received his bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting from Temple in 2008.
"My wife and I are beyond excited and honored to join Coach Surace's coaching staff and Princeton University,” Mendenhall said. “Having the opportunity to work at Princeton, a place with such history and tradition in both its academic and athletic programs, will be a life-changing experience. My goal is to make a positive impact on the young men I will be coaching and enhance the football program with my knowledge and experience. Being a southern New Jersey native makes it even sweeter."
Willis is well aware of the history and tradition at Princeton. A 2014 graduate with a degree in sociology, Willis was a senior offensive lineman when the Tigers went 8-2 and won the 2013 Ivy League championship. He spent last season as a coaching intern, and will move into the tight ends coaching position this coming season.
"My time as a Princeton student-athlete changed my life for the better, and having the opportunity to return as a coach is a dream come true. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our student-athletes while striving to uphold our championship tradition."
COACH SURACE ON MENDENHALL AND WILLIS
“After a year working in New York City, Mike Willis '14 called me last spring about making a career switch to football. The timing could not have been better, as we had an opening in an off-field position. After recruiting him almost as hard as I did after getting the job six years ago, Mike joined our staff, and to say he was outstanding would be an understatement. Mike is a fighter, which we all know was evident from his battles through numerous injuries as a player, and yet he still became a leader on our 2013 championship team. We are looking forward to Mike bringing this fight to our tight ends this year.”
“Dennis Goldman only comes into my office a handful of times with a request, so I know it was meaningful when he stopped in weeks ago. He told me one of his former players, Mike Mendenhall, was interested in our defensive assistant vacancy. At a minimum, if Dennis makes a recommendation, I am going to research the possible hire, and Mike had the qualities we want in a coach. As I talked with those who worked with him, the words 'leader, hard worker, intense, and caring' continued to come up, and Mike exceeded my high expectations on his interview. His background as a defensive coach and special teams coordinator are perfect fits as we look forward to finishing our spring practices with tremendous energy and success.”