Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Position: co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
Years at EIU: 3rd year
Alma Mater: Texas A&M, 2010

Michael Hodges is in his third season as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois on head coach Kim Dameron’s staff., Hodges coaches the EIU linebackers.  Following the departure of Kane Wommack to South Alabama in 2016, Hodges was elevated to co-Defensive Coordinator.

In 2015 Hodges helped coach a defensive unit that was among the best in the nation in turnovers gained with 31 (19 INTS, 12 FR).  He coached first team All-OVC linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill who was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.  As a unit the linebackers registered 253 tackles from the starting group with 36.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

In his first season at EIU Hodges coached All-OVC linebackers Kamu Grugier-Hill and Robert Haynes. Grugier-Hill earned first team All-OVC honors while Haynes was a second team selection. ,The linebacker group held the top three spots on the EIU tackles chart finishing the season with 252 tackles among the three starters. ,As a unit the linebackers registered 30.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.,

Hodges came to Eastern Illinois after serving two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Fresno State., While with the Bulldogs program he coached the inside linebackers, assisted with film breakdown, scouting and game preparation., Hodges was a member of the Fresno State staff as the team advanced to the Hawai’i Bowl in 2012 and Las Vegas Bowl in 2013.

He played linebacker at Texas A&M where he earned second team All-Big 12 honors as a senior., Hodges led the Aggies in tackles despite being injured in the bowl game against LSU., He twice earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors with 14 tackles against Nebraska and 19 against Oklahoma.

Hodges began his career at Texas A&M as a walk on, working his way up to honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a junior., He was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and was named a first team Academic All-American in 2010.

He graduated from Texas A&M in 2010 and earned his master’s from Texas A&M in 2011., He was presented with the 2010 Heart Award, which is the highest honor for a Texas A&M senior football player.

He and his wife Ashley were married in the summer of 2013.