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Mike Summers makes his NFL coaching debut in 2007 for the Falcons after spending the past 25 years at the collegiate level. Summers most recently served as the Offensive Line Coach under Bobby Petrino at Louisville.
Under Summers' guidance, the Cardinals offensive line blossomed into a solid, consistent unit. Of the seven players who were selected to the All-Big East first-team in 2006 for Louisville, three were chosen from the offensive line in seniors Renardo Foster and Kurt Quarterman, as well as sophomore George Bussey. The line provided balanced protection for an offense that ranked second in the nation with an average of 476.8 yards per game, while also ending up seventh in passing (286.5 yards per game) and 10th in rushing (190.3 yards per game).
A year prior in 2005, Summers developed first-team All-Big East guard Jason Spitz into an NFL prospect. He went on to start 13 of 14 games played for the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Five other players from the Cardinals offense also earned first-team All-Big East honors, including tackle Travis Leffew for his second consecutive season.
Summers helped guide the Cardinals rushing attack in 2004 to a school-record 3,005 yards and 47 rushing touchdowns, while allowing just 20 sacks and leading the country in total offense. The team also set school records for total offense (6,468 yards) and points scored (597) as the team featured six players on the Conference USA first-team.
In his first season at Louisville in 2003, Summers mentored a group that allowed just 13 sacks after yielding 46 a year earlier. The team also set a then school record for rushing yards in a season. The Cardinals went on to finish the season ranked fifth in total offense (488.9 yards per game) and 10th in rushing (228.2 yards per game).
Before joining the Cardinals staff, Summers coached two seasons at Ohio. Under Summers' guidance, the Ohio offensive line blossomed into one of the nation's top units as it created running lanes for a rushing attack that ranked eighth nationally (239.8 ypg) during the 2002 season and sixth nationally (240.1 ypg) in 2001. Additionally, the Bobcats' offensive line surrendered only 14 and 11 sacks, respectively, over those two seasons.
Prior to Ohio, Summers spent the 2000 season as Tight Ends Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Oklahoma State. Before joining the Cowboys coaching staff, Summers served as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator at the University of the South from 1996-99, leading an offense that ranked fifth in the nation in rushing and second in the conference in total offense during his tenure.
From 1991-95, Summers served as Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach at Oregon State, where the Beavers registered four straight years as the top rushing offense in the Pac-10. He was named the league's top "Offensive Backfield Coach" in 1993.
Summers also spent six seasons at Northern Illinois, coordinating an offense that established 51 school records. His time at the collegiate ranks also entailed serving as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M, working with the offensive line.
Summers played guard at Georgetown (Ky.) College and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Georgetown College in 1978.
Born June 16, 1956, in Lexington, Kentucky, he and his wife Kathy have a 21-year-old daughter, Amy, who graduated from the University of Louisville. | 