NIU loses assistant to Michigan

March 04, 2013|By Fred Mitchell, Tribune reporter
(Tribune illustration)

Northern Illinois running backs coach Roy Manning, who was hired by Huskies head coach Rod Carey in January, has left to accept a position as outside linebackers coach at Michigan, according to the Wolverines’ website.

"I'm excited to come back home to the University of Michigan," Manning said in a statement. "I played and went to school here, and there is no place like it, anywhere. I want to thank Coach (Brady) Hoke and the rest of the staff for giving me this opportunity. I understand the significance of saying, 'I am a Michigan Man,' and I will work every day to make our kids better players, students and, most importantly, people. It is a tremendous honor to be here, and now it is time to go to work."

Manning was instrumental in Northern Illinois being able to land running back Aregeros Turner from Copley (Ohio), High School. Turner’s high school coach told the Tribune that the highly touted running back originally had committed to the University of Cincinnati when Manning was an assistant coach for the Bearcats. When Manning came to NIU, Turner changed his mind and committed to the Huskies.

Manning is a former Michigan linebacker from 2000-2004.

Twitter @kicker34