Updated August 10, 2018
Now in his sixth season as the Blue Jays’ defensive coordinator is Mickey Rehring, who is entering his seventh season as a member of head coach Jim Margraff’s staff. Rehring joined the staff in 2012 and coached the JHU linebackers while also serving as the special teams coordinator.
The first six seasons of Rehring’s tenure have been among the most successful in school history as JHU has compiled a 62-8 record, won six Centennial Conference titles and made six appearances in the NCAA Playoffs since he arrived.
In his first season as the defensive coordinator, Rehring directed a unit that finished fifth in the nation in third-down percentage against (.266), eighth in sacks per game (3.45), 15th against the run (100.2 yards/game) and in the top 40 in several other categories. His unit followed that up in 2014 by allowing just 15.2 points and 308.4 yards per game and held 10 of 12 opponents to 20 points or less.
Rehring’s aggressive unit fueled 2015’s 11-1 record and trip to the second round of the NCAAs as it produced 38 turnovers – the third-highest single-season total in school history. The Blue Jay defense produced a pair of All-Americans and the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well.
The defense was again paramount during a successful 2016 season as the Blue Jays forced a Centennial-high 27 turnovers on the year and finished in the top three in the league in total defense (356.9), passing defense (185.7) and scoring defense (19.5). Eight defensive players earned All-Centennial Conference honors, including CC Defensive Player of the Year Jack Toner (S). Toner and fellow senior Jack Campbell (LB) also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
Most recently, the 2017 team allowed just 18.0 points per game, forced 27 turnovers and the opposition converted just 31.5% of its third-down chances against Rehring’s defense. Five Blue Jay defensive players earned All-Centennial honors, including four who nabbed first team status.
Rehring wasted little time making an impact on the Blue Jay defense as he coached senior linebacker Taylor Maciow to Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2012. The Blue Jay defense ranked among the top 40 in the nation in rushing, scoring and total defense while also ranking 14th in sacks.
Rehring came to Johns Hopkins after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Bowdoin (ME), where he coached the Polar Bear defensive line and also served as the special teams coach. Rehring’s line fueled a Bowdoin defense that ranked among the nation’s best in 2011. The Polar Bears finished in the top 50 nationally in five different statistical categories that year, including 16th in total defense, 19th in passing yards allowed per game and 21st in scoring defense.
Rehring was a four-year starter at Franklin & Marshall on the defensive line and earned Second Team All-Centennial honors as a sophomore. Rehring helped guide the Diplomats to a share of the 2004 Centennial Conference title and the 2004 ECAC Southwest Championship as well. F&M also advanced to the ECAC Southeast Bowl in 2005 and Rehring concluded his career with 133 tackles, 15.5 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks.
Rehring and his wife, Trish, were married in July 2014 and reside in Baltimore.
