An experienced coach who has built a reputation for attention to detail, intensity and preparation throughout his career, Mike Mallory enters his second season in New Orleans as assistant special teams coach. He brings over two decades of experience as a college coach to his post – including three stints as a defensive coordinator – and a strong past working relationship with special teams coordinator Greg McMahon.

Last season, the Saints’ special teams returned three punts for touchdowns. Mallory also assisted in the development of two newcomers signed at midseason – kicker Garrett Hartley and punter Glenn Pakulak. Hartley went on to make all 13 of his field goal attempts and Pakulak averaged 47.7 yards per punt. The Saints ranked eighth in the NFL in punt return average (11.9) and ninth in kick return average (24.1).

Mallory joined the Saints in 2008 after spending 2007 at the University of Louisville, where he served as secondary coach. He spent the previous season at Kansas coaching the linebackers, and the five years before (2001-05) as an assistant at Illinois, including his final two seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator/linebackers.

Mallory coached the Illinois linebackers in 2003 after spending his previous two years working with the safeties. For four seasons Mallory and McMahon were on the same staff at Illinois, and Mallory, as now, assisted McMahon with preparing the special teams units.

During his career, Mallory also coached the inside linebackers at Maryland (2000) – also working with the punt team while with the Terrapins – and was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Northern Illinois (1996-99) and Rhode Island (1993-95).

Mallory had a standout career as a linebacker at the University of Michigan. He was a two-time All-Big 10 selection and two-year captain. He was a finalist for the 1985 Butkus Award – given to the nation’s premier linebacker – and voted his team’s MVP in 1984. Mallory played in four bowl games and graduated with a degree in sports administration.

Mallory is from a distinguished football family. He is the son of Bill Mallory, who has served as a head coach at Indiana, Colorado, Northern Illinois and Miami University (Ohio). Mike’s youngest brother, Curt, is currently the co-defensive coordinator/secondary at Illinois, and brother, Doug, is the defensive coordinator at New Mexico.

Mallory and his wife, Kim, have a daughter, Kathryn, and a son, William.