Recruiting Areas: Massachusetts, Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin)
Mike Horan (pronounced HOR-in) is in second season as Marist's defensive coordinator in the 2025 season. Horan will also coach outside linebackers in the 2025 season and after also serving as defensive line coach in 2024.
In 2024, Horan led a defense that had a pair of Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-Americans (James Kratochvil, Nate Robinson Jr.), the PFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year (Kratochvil), and five Honorable Mention All-PFL selections (Kratochvil, Robinson, Miles Kauderer, Gannon McCorkle, and Austin Trimble).
Horan came to Marist from Harvard, where the Crimson enjoyed tremendous team success and earned numerous individual accolades in his 15-year tenure. He served as defensive line coach from 2012-23, and assistant defensive line coach from 2009-11. At Harvard, Horan won five Ivy League championships (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2023) and enjoyed an undefeated season in 2014. He coached four Bushnell Cup winners as Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
In Horan’s 12 years as Harvard’s defensive line coach, the Crimson had the top aggregate defensive unit in the Ivy League and posted an overall record of 80-30. Harvard ranked first in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in rushing defense three times, led the FCS in sacks twice, and was first in the FCS in scoring defense once. He coached 21 All-Ivy defensive linemen over the last dozen years. Horan has been responsible for recruiting the southwest region of the country, and he has recruited two Harvard captains and seven All-Ivy players since 2016.
In 2023, three Harvard defensive linemen earned All-Ivy League honors. Thor Griffin was named First Team All-Ivy, Nate Leskovec was a Second Team All-Ivy honoree, and Tyler Huenemann was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy.
In 2022, Horan’s defensive line helped the Crimson rank fourth in the FCS in rushing defense, ninth in first downs defense, 12th in sacks and 21st in team tackles for loss. Truman Jones won the Bushnell Cup and earned All-American accolades from multiple outlets. Thor Griffith was named First Team All-Ivy, and Nate Leskovec was named Honorable Mention.
After not competing in 2020 due to the pandemic, Horan helped Harvard become the top rushing defense in the FCS in 2021, as the unit allowed just 64.6 yards per game and 2.01 yards per rush attempt. The Crimson defensive line helped Harvard finish second in sacks (3.8 per game), which included a program-record-tying nine against Lafayette, second in fourth-down conversion defense (.250), fifth in team tackles for loss (8.0) and fifth in scoring defense (14.9). Horan tutored Thor Griffith to FCS Freshman All-America honors, with Chris Smith and Jacob Sykes garnering First Team All-Ivy League accolades, and Nate Leskovec being named to the Second Team.
In 2019, Harvard ranked first in the FCS in team sacks (4.3 per game), fifth in team tackles for loss (8.6 per game), and sixth in rushing defense (89.8 yards per game), all of which led the Ivy League. Horan tutored First Team all-Ivy League performer Brogan McPartland, who totaled an Ivy-best 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in just seven games, and Honorable Mention all-Ivy League selection Nasir Darnell, who led the Crimson with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
In 2018, Stone Hart was a finalist for the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2017, two defensive linemen earned All-Ivy recognition, as Stone Hart and Richie Ryan were both honored by the conference. The Crimson finished third in the league with 26 sacks and was also third in run defense.
Two members of the defensive line - DJ Bailey and Langston Ward - earned All-Ivy League recognition in 2016. The Crimson defense ranked seventh in the FCS in rushing defense and 15th overall in points allowed per game.
The defensive line helped the Crimson to its third straight Ivy title in 2015 by allowing just 13.0 points per game. Defensive end James Duberg was named to the All-Ivy Second Team after registering 16 tackles and four quarterback hurries.
In 2014, the Crimson posted the program's 17th undefeated, untied record, going 10-0 overall and winning the Ivy title. The defensive line was at the center of the championship run, helping the Crimson rank first in the nation in scoring defense (12.3 points allowed per game) and fourth in rushing defense (86.8 yards allowed per game). Zack Hodges was named the co-recipient of the Bushnell Cup as Ivy Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and he was one of three defensive linemen to be named to the All-Ivy team.
Horan's defensive line helped Harvard win the Ivy League in 2013. The squad made up the nation's sixth-best rushing defense (97.3 yards allowed per game), while the Crimson's scoring defense ranked 25
th, allowing just 22.7 points per game. Harvard recovered 13 fumbles to tie for 15th nationally and lead the Ancient Eight, while Zach Hodges was the recipient of the Bushnell Cup.
In Horan’s first season heading up the defensive line, the 2012 group helped Harvard lead the nation in rushing defense (69.4 yards allowed per game) and sacks (4.2 per game). Defensive ends Zach Hodges and John Lyon ranked among the nation’s top 20 in sacks per game, and three linemen earned All-Ivy honors.
In Horan’s final season as assistant defensive line coach in 2011, defensive tackle Josue Ortiz ’12 was named the Ivy League’s Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-America selection. Harvard’s defense led the Ivies in scoring defense, rushing defense, and sacks and ranked among the nation’s top 15 teams in each of those categories as the Crimson captured the Ivy championship.
Horan’s coaching resume also includes positions at Wagner (2008, defensive backs), The United States Merchant Marine Academy (2007, linebackers), Curry (2006, tight ends), and Stoughton High School (2005, defensive coordinator/defensive backs). At Curry, the Colonels went undefeated in the regular season, captured the New England Football Conference championship and qualified for the Division III playoffs.
In his playing career at Bates College, Horan was a senior captain and a two-time All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) selection at safety. He was an All-ECAC selection in 2004.
Horan and his wife, Susie, have two sons, Thomas (7) and George (5). Susie was a Division I field hockey standout at Holy Cross, and is Senior Associate Director of Admission at Canterbury School.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Mike, his wife Susie, and his sons Thomas and George to Marist. Mike is a transformative leader, teacher, and relationship builder. I’ve been fortunate to know Mike for 14 years and compete against him every year during our time in the Ivy League. His defensive line unit was consistently the best in FCS football, and the defenses he helped build were among the finest in the nation. I am so excited for him to coordinate our defense; he knows how to recruit and develop elite student-athletes. We are fortunate to have Mike on the Marist Football staff and in the Marist College community. Marist College Football got better today!”
Mike Willis
Head Coach, Marist College
“Mike Horan is committed all the way through and brings great energy to all that he does. He cares deeply about the game of football and about developing his players as athletes and as people. He constantly looks for ways to be better and to make others better.”
Erin McDermott
John D. Nichols ’53 Family Director of Athletics, Harvard University
“In Coach Horan’s 15 seasons at Harvard, the football program has won 74% of its games and earned five Ivy League titles. The most critical factor in that success has been the consistently dominant play of our defensive line. Coach Horan is a master strategist, a detailed teacher, and most importantly a compassionate and dedicated mentor. Marist has made an outstanding selection in choosing him to the leader of their defense.”
Scott Larkee
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, Harvard University
“I’ve never met anyone who loves football as much as Coach Horan and nobody could ever question his work ethic. He genuinely cared about our team and the players within his defensive line room. Coach always wore his heart on his sleeve. I wouldn’t have wanted to play for anyone else. I’m forever grateful for our shared experiences!”
Nate Leskovec
149th Harvard University Football Captain
“I spent 10 years with Mike, and I’m not sure there’s a sharper football mind I’ve been around. He’s tremendous with the X’s and O’s and a great developer of young men on and off the field. He’s a great hire for Marist College.”
Jon Poppe
Patricia & Shepard Alexander Head Coach of Football, Columbia University
“Mike Horan is a terrific coach and motivator, and Marist is fortunate to have him!”
Tim Murphy
Head Coach, Harvard University
