Lou Esposito - Defensive Line - Staff Directory - University of Michigan Athletics

Staff Directory

Lou Esposito

Title:
Defensive Line

Lou Esposito is in his second season as defensive line coach for the University of Michigan in 2025. He was named to the position on March 29, 2024, and is in his 22nd year of collegiate coaching.

In Esposito's first year with the program in 2024, the defensive line was the strength of U-M's defense. Interior players Mason Graham (consensus first team) and Kenneth Grant (third team) were All-Americans, and Graham was a finalist for the Nagurski and Outland Trophies. Graham (first-team, 7.0 TFL), Grant (second, 6.5), and edge Josaiah Stewart (second, 13 with 8 sacks) were All-Big Ten picks. Nine different defensive linemen recorded stops in opponents' backfields. U-M finished fifth in the nation in rushing defense and held eight opponents under 100 yards on the ground. Overall, the unit ranked 10th in total defense and among the top 20 in sacks.

Prior to joining the staff at U-M, Esposito had been named co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at the University of Memphis (spring 2024) after spending the prior 14 seasons in the state of Michigan. Esposito served as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Michigan for seven seasons (2017-23), working with the defensive line (2017-19) and ends (2020-23). It was his second stint with the Broncos (2010-12).

Across 10 years on the WMU staff, Esposito helped players achieve 32 All-MAC honors including seven first-team accolades and 12 second-team honors. Standout performers included future NFL-ers Paul Hazel (2010), Freddie Bishop (2012), Robert Spillane (2017), A.J. Thomas (2021), Zaire Barnes (2022), Braden Fiske (2022), Marshawn Kneeland (2023), 2019 All-American linebacker Treshaun Hayward (142 tackles; third, NCAA), and 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Ali Fayad (13.0 sacks).

Esposito improved the defense's production, especially in the trenches. The Broncos averaged 2.0 sacks per game before Esposito's arrival but averaged at least 2.3 per game in five of his last six seasons including 3.34 (fourth nationally) in 2021. He improved the defense's TFL production from ranking 81st in the country before his arrival to fifth in 2020 (5.08 per game), with the Broncos finishing five of the last six seasons in the top 35 nationally. The 2019 Broncos' defense featured four players with at least 4.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss and six total defenders with 60-plus tackles.

Prior to his time in Kalamazoo, Esposito was the first head coach of the startup program at Davenport University (2014-16). He recruited more than 125 student-athletes in two years to build the program from the ground up and oversaw a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign for a football facility. The Panthers posted a 6-5 record in their inaugural season in 2016.

Esposito was the defensive coordinator at Ferris State University in 2013. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in total defense, pass efficiency defense, and rush defense. The unit was 13th in run defense prior to his arrival. The program ranked top 25 in two of the national polls with a defense that finished top-five in many GLIAC statistical categories in 2023.

During his first stop in Kalamazoo, Esposito worked with the defensive line (2010-12). He coached the 2011 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Drew Nowak, who led the conference in sacks and was named an All-American. Esposito worked with future NFL players Freddie Bishop (Jets) and Paul Hazel (Browns, Giants) while at WMU.

For the six seasons prior, Esposito was at Division II Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College, for one year as defensive coordinator (2004) and five as head coach (2005-09). He was Great Lakes Football Conference (GLFC) Coach of the Year twice (2006, '09), leading the program to league titles in both seasons. The team went 30-25 in his tenure with a 100 percent graduation rate for four-year athletes.

In 2009, the Pumas had 23 All-GLFC performers and ranked first in both rushing offense and rushing defense. The team had the top-ranked red zone offense in the league behind the 2009 GLFC Offensive Player of the Year, and went undefeated in conference play.

A former offensive lineman, Esposito was a four-year letter winner at the University of Memphis. He was selected as a team captain for the 1999 and 2000 seasons and went on to earn his bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2002 following a season with the Arena Football League's (AFL) Memphis Xplorers in 2001. He joined the Xplorers coaching staff and served as offensive and defensive line coach as well as special teams coordinator for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Esposito and his wife, Brooke, have four children: Louis J. Esposito IV, Emilia Rose, Anthony, and Mason.

THE ESPOSITO FILE
Birthday: Sept. 13
High School: Manalapan (N.J.)
College: Memphis (exercise science, 2002)
Wife: Brooke
Kids: Louis J. Esposito IV, Emilia Rose, Anthony, Mason

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Year	School	Position
2002-03	Memphis XPlorers (AFL)	Special Teams Coordinator/Offensive Line/Defensive Line
2004	Saint Joseph's College	Defensive Coordinator
2005-09	Saint Joseph's College	Head Coach
2010-12	Western Michigan	Defensive Line
2013	Ferris State	Defensive Coordinator
2014-16	Davenport	Head Coach
2017-23	Western Michigan	Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
2024	Michigan	Defensive Line