YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Mike Hart, the University of Michigan football program's all-time leading rusher, has joined the Eastern Michigan University football team as an offensive quality control assistant, Head Coach
Ron English announced today, Aug 17.
The 25-year-old Hart (4-9-86) spent the past three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) on the roster of the Indianapolis Colts. A sixth-round draft choice in 2008, Hart carried the ball a total of 71 times in 21 games through three injury-plagued seasons as a Colt. He gained 185 yards in seven games last season.
Prior to the NFL, Hart set school records for carries (1,015) and rushing yards (5,040) at Michigan between 2004-07. A four-year starter for the Wolverines, Hart's 41 career touchdowns rank third in U-M history. Additionally, he ranks fourth all-time in the Big Ten Conference in career rushes and yards gained, while ranking 11th in touchdowns.
A 2006 and 2007 Doak Walker Award finalist, Hart finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. He broke on to the national scene in 2004, setting school freshman rushing records with 282 carries for 1,455, yards and nine touchdowns. The totals ranked as second highest single-season rushing total by a freshman in Big Ten history and he became just the third "true" freshman in conference history to lead the league in rushing, joining Ron Dayne (Wisconsin, 1996) and Darrel Thompson (Minnesota, 1986).
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Hart graduated from Onondaga Central High School in 2004. While playing for the Tigers, he set the national career record for rushing touchdowns (204) and finished second in career rushing yards (11,045). Onondaga Central went 46–1 and won three state championships during Hart's career.
The Mike Hart File
Name: Leon Michael Hart
Born: 4-9-86 • Syracuse, N.Y.
High School: Onondaga Central H.S. - Graduated in 2004
College: University of Michigan - Bachelor's degree in liberal arts - 2008
Family: Wife: Monique Son: Cameron
Football Coaching Experience
Year School Position Record-Highlights
2011 Eastern Michigan University Quality Control Assistant - Offense
2008-10 Indianapolis Colts Player
2004-07 University of Michigan Student-Athlete