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Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator & Outside Linebackers Coach
- E-Mail:
- mendenhall@princeton.edu
| QUICK FACTS ON MIKE MENDENHALL |
| • entering 10th season as outside linebackers coach |
| • coached Jeremiah Tyler during 2021 Ivy title run where he was named Bushnell Cup winner as the Ivy League DPOY. |
| • helped coach 2016 defense to top ranking in most Ivy categories and Ivy League title |
| • started 33 games as a defensive end at Temple |
| • spent five years as the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at North Carolina Central |
PRINCETON RECRUITING AREAS — Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem)
Email Coach Mendenhall at mendenhall@princeton.edu
Mike Mendenhall is entering his 10th season as outside linebackers coach at Princeton in 2024. His impact has been felt during his tenure. He helped the Tigers win both the 2016, 2018 and 2021 Ivy League championships by coaching outside linebackers in dominant defensive units.
The Tigers’ defense remained one of the best in the FCS in 2023, finishing in the top 20 in rushing defense (third, 93.8 yards), scoring defense (sixth, 17.5 points per game), team passing efficiency defense (sixth, 111.45), fewest first downs allowed (seventh, 174), red zone defense (eighth, 70.8 percent), total defense (eighth, 302.1) and fumbles recovered (17th, 10).
Princeton’s defense had five All-Ivy selections in Ozzie Nicholas, Liam Johnson, Nasir Hill, Jack DelGarbino and Will Perez. Perez would later earn a rookie minicamp invite from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Princeton went 8-2 and was in contention for the Ivy League title into the final week of the 2022 regular season. The Tigers had 16 All-Ivy selections tied for second-most at Princeton since 2013 while Liam Johnson was named the Bushnell Cup winner for Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year. The Tigers' defense finished No. 1 in the country in scoring (13.5), third in rushing defense (90.7), fourth in total defense (299.7) and interceptions (16), 11th in passing efficiency defense (115.37) and 15th in fewest first downs allowed (189).
The 2021 season saw the Tigers go 9-1, securing the program's third Ivy League title in five seasons. Princeton had 16 All-Ivy selections including 10 first-team honorees, a program record. The Tigers' defensive unit was one of the best in the NCAA FCS as it allowed the second fewest first downs, third in rushing defense, eighth in team sacks per game and ninth in total defense. Jeremiah Tyler was named Second-Team Stats Perform FCS All-America and the Bushnell Cup winner as the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
The 2018 title was led by a pair of his All-Ivy League standouts, Mike Wagner and Tyler. Wagner proved to be one of the Ivy League's top sack specialists over his final two years, while Tyler thrived in the SAM position and made critical impact plays in key wins over Harvard, Dartmouth and Yale.
His 2016 unit helped lead the Ivy League in scoring (16.4), total (317.6), and rushing (80.1) defense, and outside (rush) linebacker Birk Olson earned All-Ivy League honorable mention.
Mendenhall came to Princeton after five years as the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at North Carolina Central.
Mendenhall was a four-year starter for the Temple 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.
