Western Michigan to hire David Duggan as linebackers coach
Former Southern Miss defensive coordinator and linebackers coach David Duggan will be the new linebackers coach for Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck, according to sources.
Duggan replaces Tem Lukabu, who left Western Michigan to join the staff of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Duggan interviewed for the head coaching at Southern Miss but was not retained by new Golden Eagles head coach Jay Hopson, who was hired in late January.
The 52-year-old Duggan spent the last three seasons at Southern Miss in his positions, improving the Golden Eagles defense from 13th in Conference USA in points allowed to second this past season. He served as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at North Carolina in 2012 and had an earlier four-year stint at Southern Miss, coaching linebackers from ’08–10 before adding co-defensive coordinator duties in ’11.
Before joining the Golden Eagles, Duggan spent seven seasons in NFL Europe. He was head coach of the Cologne Centurions from 2006–07, recording a 10–9 record, and served as the Centurions’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from ’04–05. He was the Berlin Thunder’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from ’01–03.
Duggan was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Brown from 1998–2000 after coaching linebackers at Colgate from 1995–97. He coached inside linebackers for Holy Cross from ’92–94.
The Concord, Mass., native coached inside linebackers at his alma mater, New Hampshire, from 1998–91. He got his start in coaching as Allegheny College’s inside linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coach in ’87. Duggan played linebacker at New Hampshire from ’82–86, serving as captain for his senior season.
He joins Fleck’s staff after Western Michigan went 8–5 in 2015 and finished in a four-way tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference’s West Division. The Broncos capped the season with a 45–31 victory over Middle Tennessee in the Bahamas Bowl.
Fleck has engineered a major turnaround at Western Michigan after going 1–11 in 2013, winning eight games in each of the past two seasons. He has a 17–21 record in his three seasons with the Broncos.
