Bruce Tall Position: Defensive Line Experience: 3rd Season

Bruce Tall is in his third season as Michigan's defensive line coach. He has 28 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, and has had at least one all-conference player in 20 of those 28 years.

Tall joined the Wolverine program after spending five seasons as the safeties coach with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia (2003-07). Tall led WVU's spur and bandit safeties and played an integral role in developing the defensive game plan that ousted Oklahoma, 48-28, in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

Prior to joining the WVU staff, he tutored the defensive line at Western Michigan uring the 2002 season. He coached two first-team All-MAC players, including the conference's defensive player of the year and a second-team All-American, Jason Babin.

Tall also coached at Harvard, serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (1998-2001); his defense led the league in rushing defense two of those four seasons. He arrived at Harvard after running the defense at Northeastern (1993-97) where his 1997 team ranked second in Division I-AA in rushing defense, allowing 60.5 yards per game.

He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan, in 1982 and earned a full-time position as linebackers mentor for two seasons (1983-84). Tall spent two seasons at Cornell (1985-86) before returning to Ohio Wesleyan (1987-92), eventually becoming defensive coordinator at the school.

A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Tall earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education at Ohio Wesleyan (1982). He was a three-year letterman in football and earned one letter in wrestling.

Tall has coached six All-Americans and received the 2001 Assistant Coach of the Year award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, granted by the All-American Football Foundation. Tall's football experience extends to the NFL, completing internships in Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago and Tampa Bay. Tall and his wife, Karmen, reside in Saline. They are the parents of three children: Braythan, Karsyn and Kallyn.

Tall's All-Conference Performers
1983: Eric DiMartino (1st, All-OAC), Ted Jameson (1st)
1984: Dean Cordle (2nd, All-NCAC)
1989: Eric Abbot (1st, All-NCAC), Neil Ringers (1st), Keith Rucker (1st)
1990: Kirk Jackson (1st, All-NCAC), Neil Ringers (1st), Keith Rucker (1st), Bo Smith (1st), Eric Abbot (2nd)
1991: Eric Abbot (1st, All-NCAC), Doug Dean (1st), Terry Mee (1st), Keith Rucker (1st)
1994: David Atwood (1st, All-Atlantic 10)
1995: Reggie Thornton (2nd, All-Atlantic 10)
1996: Steve Kives (2nd, All-Atlantic 10)
1997: Steve Kives (1st, All-Atlantic 10), Zach Falconer (2nd)
1998: Isaiah Kacyvenski (1st, All-Ivy), Scott Larkee (2nd)
1999: Isaiah Kacyvenski (1st, All-Ivy)
2000: Dante Balestracci (1st, All-Ivy)
2001: Dante Balestracci (1st, All-Ivy)
2002: Jason Babin (1st, All-MAC/MAC Defensive Player of the Year), Chris Browning (1st, All-MAC)
2004: Mike Lorello (2nd, All-Big East)
2005: Mike Lorello (1st, All-Big East), Eric Wicks (2nd)
2006: Eric Wicks (1st, All-Big East)
2007: Eric Wicks (1st, All-Big East)
2008: Brandon Graham (2nd, All-Big Ten)
2009: Brandon Graham (1st, All-Big Ten)

Tall's All-Americans
1983: Eric DiMartino, LB (1st)
1990: Neil Ringers, DL (1st)
1999: Isaiah Kacyvenski, LB (1st)
1991: Keith Rucker, DL (1st)
2002: Jason Babin, DL (2nd)
2008: Mike Martin, DT (2nd, All-Freshmen)
2009: Brandon Graham, DE (2nd)

The Tall File
Age: 50
Date of Birth: November 22, 1959
Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio
High School: Shaker Heights
College: Ohio Wesleyan (1982)
Wife: Karmen
Children: Braythan, Karsyn, Kallyn

College Bowl Experience (5)
West Virginia: Fiesta (2007), Gator (2003, 2004, 2006), Sugar (2005)

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