Presbyterian College Football Names Michael Bruno as Defensive Coordinator
January 14, 2026
Presbyterian College head football coach Matt Rahl announced Wednesday afternoon that Michael Bruno has been named the Blue Hose’s new defensive coordinator.
Bruno brings extensive FBS experience to Clinton, with coaching stops across the ACC, SEC, Pac-12, and Mountain West. He most recently served as linebackers coach at the University of California, Berkeley, completing his second stint with the Golden Bears.
“I am thrilled to be able to turn our defense over to Coach Bruno,” Rahl said. “His experience at all levels of college football will be very valuable to our team. I’m excited about the passion and commitment that Mike brings to his teaching and the relationships that he forms with the student-athletes under his watch.”
Recent Experience at Cal
Bruno returned to Cal for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, first as a defensive analyst and later as inside linebackers coach under head coach Justin Wilcox. During that span, the Golden Bears reached the postseason in both years and recorded notable wins over Auburn, Wake Forest, Stanford, Louisville, and SMU.
Defensively, Cal ranked among the ACC’s top units, including leading the conference in pass efficiency defense and finishing near the top in scoring and passing defense. The Golden Bears earned bowl appearances in consecutive seasons.
Coordinator Experience and Prior Stops
Bruno earned his first opportunity to lead a college defense in 2023 as defensive coordinator at Minot State University, where his unit led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in passing defense and produced multiple all-conference performers.
He previously coached inside linebackers at University of Nevada, Las Vegas during the 2022 season. UNLV led the Mountain West in interceptions that year, and Bruno coached the conference’s Linebacker of the Year.
Early Career
Bruno began his FBS career during his first stint at Cal from 2018–21, serving as a defensive quality control assistant. The Golden Bears posted multiple winning seasons, ranked nationally in several defensive categories, and made postseason appearances.
Earlier stops included positions at University of Louisville and Mississippi State University, followed by a successful five-season tenure at Dartmouth College, where the Big Green captured a share of the Ivy League championship and ranked among the nation’s top defensive programs.
Bruno began his coaching career at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He earned his undergraduate degree from Saint Lawrence University and later completed a master’s degree in teaching from Mississippi State.
With the addition of Bruno, Rahl continues to shape his first Blue Hose coaching staff, adding another experienced coordinator as Presbyterian College looks ahead to the upcoming season.
