Mike Denbrock

In 2002, Denbrock was hired at the University of Notre Dame, to coach offensive tackles and tight ends. He was hired by then new coach Tyrone Willingham, whom Denbrock served under at Stanford.[3] From 2002 to 2004, Denbrock's offensive tackles and tight ends were big factors as the Irish produced 1,000-yard rushers in 2002 (Ryan Grant) and 2003 (Julius Jones). He also coached several players who later went onto NFL careers, including offensive linemen Ryan Harris, Jim Molinaro, Jordan Black and Brennan Curtin plus tight ends Anthony Fasano, Jerome Collins and John Carlson. Following Willingham's termination in 2004,[4] new head coach Charlie Weis did not renew Denbrock's contract.

In 2005, he was hired by the University of Washington to coach the offensive line, a position he held until 2008. In 2007, the Husky line helped running back Louis Rankin become the first 1,000-yard rusher at Washington since 1997. In 2009, Denbrock was hired by Indiana State University as the special teams coordinator, linebackers coach and associate head coach.[5]

In 2010, Denbrock was hired by Brian Kelly, as he put together his inaugural coaching staff for the Irish.[6] He spent the next two seasons coaching the tight ends, playing a major role in the development of future NFL tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert. In 2011, Eifert was named an finalist for the Mackey Award, presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end. Denbrock transitioned to coach the outside wide receivers and served as passing game coordinator in 2012 and 2013.[7] Following the departure of offensive coordinator Chuck Martin to Miami University, Denbrock was named interim offensive coordinator for the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl vs Rutgers.[8] On January 30, 2014, Denbrock was officially promoted to offensive coordinator.[9]

On January 17, 2017, Luke Fickell, head football coached at University of Cincinnati, announced Denbrock as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats.[10] Denbrock counts eight NFL draft picks among his pupils, including a pair of Notre Dame tight ends with Cincinnati ties, the Cincinnati Bengals' draftee Tyler Eifert and Cincinnati-native Kyle Rudolph, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.

Following Cincinnati's 2021 loss in the College Football Playoff to Alabama, it was announced that Denbrock would be reuniting with Brian Kelly at LSU as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.[11]