Mike Polly - Football Coach - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Mike Polly

Title:
Offensive Tackles & Tight Ends
Email:
mike.polly@mtsu.edu
Phone:
898-2926

Updated February 2023

Mike Polly, a former graduate assistant for the Blue Raiders, is in his 11th season on Rick Stockstill’s staff and his second as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Polly spent the previous seven years as coach of the offensive line/special teams and run game coordinator. Polly, who handled the running backs his first three years, made his return to Middle Tennessee after spending three years at Murray State overseeing the offensive tackles and tight ends.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:

At Middle Tennessee, offensive line/run game coordinator (2022-Present)
• Recruiting Area: East Tennessee, West Georgia, North Alabama, East Central Florida, Texas Juco
• Took over as offensive line coach in February 2022
• After losing four starters from 2021, Polly quickly molded an inexperienced group into a unit that showed improvement each week. Senior Jordan Palmer went on to earn Honorable Mention All-C-USA honors while Keylan Rutledge earned a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman team

At Middle Tennessee, running backs (2013-15), tackles/tight ends/special teams coordinator/run game coordinator (2016-21)
• Date Hired: Feb. 12, 2013
• Coached all-conference special teams players Canon Rooker, Matt Bonadies, Brody Butler and Jaylin Lane and offensive linemen Will Gilchrist, Robert Jones (two-time), Maurquice Shakir and Jordan Palmer
• In 2021, MT ranked 9^th nationally in blocked kicks and 4^th in punt return yards/game while Jaylin Lane ranked second nationally in punt return yards/game
• In 2020, punter Kyle Ulbrich finished 26^th nationally in punting while putting together the second-best season average in school history (43.8)
• Helped Crews Holt end his MT career ranked fifth in program history in field goals made and percentage
• Coached tackle Robert Jones, who earned an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl in 2020
• 2019 offensive line helped MT rank third in CUSA in rushing (first in league games), while producing a 1,000-yard rushing quarterback in Asher O’Hara
• Part of an O-Line staff that coached a unit who blocked for 191.8 rush yards per game, second most in CUSA in 2016, and allowed the fewest sacks in the league while setting 11 single-season records including total yards and points scored
• 2016 offensive line helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver for the first time in school history
• Coached Canon Rooker to a program record for kicker points in 2016 and the top career field goal percentage of 83.3
• Team finished 19^th nationally in blocked kicks in 2017 and team averaged 198.7 yards rushing over last five games combined
• Coached a stable of running backs who averaged 185.6 yards per game from 2013-15
• Special teams unit blocked nine kicks from the 2014-16 seasons

At Murray State, tackles/tight ends (2010) offensive line (2011-12), 2010-12
• Racers ranked in the top five nationally in total offense each season
• Coached an offensive line that helped pave the way for the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 2007: Georgetown College (offensive line assistant)
• 2007-09: Middle Tennessee (grad assistant)
• 2010: Murray State (tackles/tight ends)
• 2011-12: Murray State (offensive line/special teams coordinator)
• 2013: Middle Tennessee (running backs)
• 2014-15: Middle Tennessee (running backs, special teams)
• 2016-21: Middle Tennessee (tackles/tight ends/special teams/run game coordinator)
• 2022-Present: Middle Tennessee (offensive line/run game coordinator)

Personal
• Birthdate: Nov. 10, 1983
• Hometown: Erlanger, Ky.
• Wife: Meagan

Education
• High School: Dixie Heights HS, 2002
• College: Georgetown College, B.S. in Business, 2006; Master of Science in Sports Management, Middle Tennessee

Playing Experience (OL)
• Georgetown College, 2002-06
• Helped Tigers to four straight conference titles
• Was co-captain and earned all-conference honors as a senior
• Received the scholar-athlete of the year award

Bowl Experience
• 2009: New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2013: Armed Forces Bowl (coach)
• 2015: Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2016: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)
• 2017: Camellia Bowl (coach)
• 2018: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (coach)
• 2021: Bahamas Bowl (coach)
• 2022: Hawai’i Bowl (coach)