Brian Jean-Mary 2026-27 Football Staff

THE JEAN-MARY FILE

Hometown: Apopka, Fla.
High School: Apopka
College: Appalachian State (1998)
Wife: Jerilyn Ardis
Children: Brittany and Brooke

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

• 1993-97 Appalachian State (Linebacker)

COACHING CAREER

• 2000 Louisville Graduate Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
• 2001-02 South Carolina Graduate Assistant, Defense
• 2003 North Alabama Secondary Coach
• 2004-09 Georgia Tech Linebackers Coach
• 2010-13 Louisville Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach
• 2014-16 Texas Linebackers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
• 2017-19 South Florida Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
• 2020 Michigan Linebackers Coach
• 2021-23 Tennessee Linebackers Coach
• 2024-25 Michigan Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers Coach

BOWLS/PLAYOFFS COACHED

• 2000 Liberty Bowl (Louisville)
• 2002 Outback Bowl (South Carolina)
• 2003 NCAA Division II Playoff Semifinals (North Alabama)
• 2004 Champs Sports Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2005 Emerald Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2007 Gator Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2007 Humanitarian Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2010 Orange Bowl (Georgia Tech)
• 2010 Beef O’Brady’s Bowl (Louisville)
• 2011 Belk Bowl (Louisville)
• 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl (Louisville)
• 2013 Sugar Bowl (Louisville)
• 2014 Texas Bowl (Texas)
• 2017 Birmingham Bowl (South Florida)
• 2018 Gasparilla Bowl (South Florida)
• 2021 Music City Bowl (Tennessee)
• 2022 Orange Bowl (Tennessee)
• 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Tennessee)
• 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl (Michigan)
• 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Michigan)

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Jean-Mary earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Appalachian State in 1998.
• He played linebacker from 1993-97 for the Mountaineers.

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Most recently, Jean-Mary was the Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Linebackers Coach in his second stint at the University of Michigan from 2024-25.
• In 2025, Michigan was ranked 19th among FBS programs in rushing defense (111.9 yards per game) and fourth in the Big Ten in third down conversion percentage defensively (38.0 percent).
• The 2024 Michigan defense was ranked fifth among all FBS programs in rushing defense and tenth in total defense.
• From 2021-23, he was the Linebackers Coach at the University of Tennessee. 
• Jean-Mary helped the 2023 Tennessee defense to top 10 rankings nationally in defensive touchdowns (5), tackles for loss (7.8), team sacks (3.15) and fourth down conversion percentage defense (26.9 percent).
• The 2022 Volunteers defense was ranked 10th nationally in tackles for loss (7.2) and 11th in turnover margin (0.77). As a team, Tennessee was 20th nationally in rushing defense (115.8 yards per game).
• In 2021, Tennessee finished the year tied for eighth in the nation and second in the SEC in tackles for loss with 108.
• Jean-Mary served as the Linebackers Coach in his first stint at the University of Michigan in 2020.
• From 2017-19, Jean-Mary was the Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at the University of South Florida.
• Eight defensive players earned American All-Conference honors in that three-year span. The Bulls were ranked in the top five in tackles for loss in two of his three seasons with the squad.
• Defensive tackle Deadrin Senat was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. 
• Jean-Mary served as the Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Texas from 2014-16.
• He mentored Jordan Hicks to All-American honors in 2014 while the Longhorns were in the top 25 in six categories, which included leading the country in recovered fumbles (21). Hicks was later selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
• From 2010-13, Jean-Mary served as the Assistant Head Coach and Linebackers Coach at the University of Louisville. 
• Five of his players on the defensive side of the ball were selected in the NFL Draft during his tenure at Louisville – defensive backs Calvin Pryor (2014, first round) and Johnny Patrick (2011, third round), defensive ends Marcus Smith (2014, first round) and Greg Scruggs (2012, seventh round), and linebacker Preston Brown (2014, third round). 
• In 2013, the Louisville defense led the country in total defense (251.5), rushing defense (80.7), sacks per game (3.31), first downs allowed (183) and third-down defense (26.7 percent) with Jean-Mary’s guidance. 
• The 2012 Louisville squad went 11-2 and was 13th in the BCS standings while raking in the top 25 in passing defense and total defense. 
• In 2011, the Cardinals won a share of the Big East title while the defense was ranked in the top 10 of all FBS programs in rushing defense (100.5 yards per game). 
• Jean-Mary’s linebackers were part of a defense that was ranked in the top 20 nationally at Louisville in 2010. Additionally, the 2010 Cardinals defense was ranked in the top 10 in pass defense (167.4 yards per game) and sacks per game (3.0).
• He served as the linebackers coach at Georgia Tech from 2004-09. The Yellow Jackets defense was ranked in the top 30 in the nation in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense in five of the six seasons Jean-Mary was on the staff.
• The 2009 Yellow Jackets went 11-3 and were ACC Champions as the defense was in the top 20 among FBS programs in sacks and tackles for loss
• His 2008 linebacker group helped Georgia Tech finish in the top 20 among FBS programs in sacks and tackles for loss. 
• In 2007, Georgia Tech led the nation in sacks and was second in tackles for loss under Jean-Mary’s guidance. Linebacker Philip Wheeler was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. 
• The 2006 Yellow Jackets limited the opposition to just 18.4 points per game and 104.8 rushing yards per game. 
• His 2005 linebacker group was instrumental in the team’s defensive efforts as the Yellow Jackets allowed just 103.9 rushing yards per game and held their opponents to a 28.7 percent conversion rate on third down. 
• His first season at Georgia Tech in 2004 saw the Yellow Jackets hold their opponents to 104.6 yards rushing per game.
• In 2003, Jean-Mary helped North Alabama reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs as the squad allowed just 14.1 points per game, which was good enough to rank sixth nationally.
• Jean-Mary started his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2002 and 2001 under Lou Holtz at South Carolina after serving as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Louisville in 2000.