Report: Greg Mattison staying on Michigan coaching staff

Former Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison will remain on at U-M, on Jim Harbaugh's new staff, according to a report from Wolverine247.

"Wolverine247 has confirmed that Greg Mattison will stay on the Michigan staff in some capacity. This is through three different recruits he has contacted in the last twenty-four hours. None of the three recruits contacted were able to specify where Mattison will coach, just that he told them that he plans to recruit them going forward and that Michigan will be strong with Jim Harbaugh at the helm," the report stated.

Mattison, the 65-year-old who served as Brady Hoke's defensive coordinator the past four years, reached out to a few current Michigan players last week, they told the Free Press, but did not tell them his plans. But that was before Harbaugh was officially introduced as U-M's head coach on Tuesday.

He could stay as a position coach, given his experience coaching the defensive line and linebackers throughout his career, roles he's served at U-M in the past three years.

By staying, at least Michigan would be paying him to coach, instead of paying him a large sum not to.

He signed a contract extension in April 2013 that lasts through the 2016 season. He made $888,333 last season -- 10th among assistants nationally, according to a USA Today survey -- and the contract calls for his pay to increase by $40,000 in each of the next two seasons.

This would be the fourth coaching regime for Mattison at Michigan after he coached at U-M from 1992-96 under Gary Moeller, then Lloyd Carr. Michigan's defense finished No. 9 nationally this season in total defense (yards allowed.)

He has a long association with the Harbaugh family as well, having coached under Harbaugh's father Jack at Western Michigan from 1982-86 and then under Harbaugh's brother John with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008-10.

Speculation has centered around Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin for the same position at Michigan as he reportedly put off giving Texas A&M an answer on its vacancy waiting for Harbaugh. A&M filled its vacancy with LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis.

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark__snyder.