CMU Football Camps

Defensive Coaching Staff

Greg Colby
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers

Greg Colby joined coach John Bonamego’s staff as its defensive coordinator in February, 2015, bringing with him an extensive resume that includes several stops as a defensive coordinator and several seasons in the Big Ten.

Colby served as the defensive line coach at Illinois from 2012-14, as the defensive coordinator at Northwestern from 2002-07, and as the defensive coordinator at Kent State from 1998-2001. From 2008-12, Colby was the head coach at NCAA Division II Millersville (Pa.) University.

At Northwestern, Colby helped the Wildcats to three consecutive six-win seasons, a first for the Wildcats in 70 years, along with berths in the Motor City Bowl (2003) and Sun Bowl (2005).

At Kent State, Colby’s 2001 defense was ranked third in the Mid-American Conference as the Golden Flashes posted their first winning season in 14 years. In 1999, Colby was nominated by Kent State head coach Dean Pees bor the Frank Broyles Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Colby held assistant-coaching posts at Michigan State and Illinois from 1988-97, serving primarily on the defensive side of the ball an as a special teams coordinator and working under the likes of head coaches Nick Saban, John Mackovic and Lou Tepper.

He helped Michigan State to bowl appearances in all three seasons on which he served under Saban, and at Illinois, he helped the Illini to the Big Ten title in ’89 and six bowl berths.

Before getting into college coaching fulltime, Colby worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under head coach George Perles, helping the Spartans to the Big Ten championship in 1987 and to the Rose Bowl in ’88.

From 1974-86, Colby held a varsity of coaching positions in several sports, including football, track and field and baseball, at Naperville (Ill.) Central High School, Schlarman High School in Danville, Ill.; the University of Illinois; and Marshall (Ill.) High School.

Colby earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Illinois in 1975 after spending three years as a starter in both football and baseball. He was a two-time All-Stater in both football and baseball at Danville High School.

Mike Dietzel
Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties

Mike Dietzel was named CMU's special teams coordinator/safties coach on Feb. 24, 2015 by head coach John Bonamego.

Dietzel served in the same post, special teams/safties, at Buffalo for five seasons from 2010-14, helping the Bulls reach several overall and defensive milestones.

In 2013, Dietzel was part of a staff that led Buffalo to an 8-5 finish for just the second winning season in school history, and a berth in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Dietzel helped lead a defense that ranked second in the Mid-American Conference in both 2012 and 2013, his kickoff coverage unit ranked eighth in the nation in 2013, and the Bulls were 14th nationally in turnovers gained that season with 29.

Before arriving at Buffalo, Dietzel spent seven years (2003-09) as the secondary/linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Western Kentucky; two years (2001-02) as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Kent State; two stints (1992-93 and '95-99) as an assistant at Army, where he served alongside Bonamego; one year (1994) as the defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Johns Hopkins; two years (1988, '91) as an assistant at Pennsylvania; and one (1987) at Earlham College.

Dietzel also spent a year in the professional ranks as an assistant with the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL.

Dietzel also worked as a graduate assistant at Colorado and at Michigan, and also served as the track and field coach at Johns Hopkins.

Archie Collins
Defensive Backs

Archie Collins is entering his second season with the CMU coaching staff as its defensive backs coach.

Collins made an immediate impact as CMU tallied 14 interceptions in 2013 including three defensive touchdowns. The Chippewas also had the MAC's third-best pass defense, allowing just 203.9 yards per game.

On Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio's staff from 2010-12, Collins assisted with coaching the defensive backs and special teams in addition to recruiting. At Michigan State, Collins worked under defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett, helping six Spartans earn 10 all-conference honors and contributing to a Big Ten Championship in 2010.

Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Collins coached in the Detroit Public School League for seven years. Nine of his players earned all-state honors while 28 received all-city recognition.

Starting in 2006, Collins held the position of defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Southeastern High School for three years, helping the Jungaleers capture back-to-back district and PSL division championships in 2008-09. During his time at SHS, the Jugaleers recorded 15 shutouts, totaled 126 takeaways, and scored 16 defensive touchdowns.

In 2005, Collins was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mackenzie High School.

Collins also served as defensive backs coach for two seasons at his high school alma mater, Cass Tech (2003-04). While at CTHS, the Technicians combined to record 29 interceptions and 22 pass break-ups and score four defensive touchdowns.

Collins played at Michigan State from 1996-97. A safety, he was a two-time letterwinner and was twice named the Spartans' Special Teams Player of the Week, the first time for his performance in a 1996 game against Penn State, the second time against Purdue in 1997.

A Detroit native, Collins earned his bachelor's degree in finance (1998) and master's degree in kinesiology and coaching (2011) from Michigan State.

Collins and his wife, Brandi, have a daughter, Amber, and a son, Archie IV.

George Ricumstrict
Defensive Line

George Ricumstrict, a former All-Mid-American Conference linebacker and assistant coach at Central Michigan, rejoined the Chippewas' as their defensive line coach in 2013.

Last year, Ricumstrict mentored a young defensive line that had multiple breakout players. Defensive tackle LT Walton ranked in the MAC's top 10 in tackles for a loss with 9.5 while junior Blake Serpa played a key role in CMU's three-game winning streak at the end of the season.

Ricumstrict's coaching career spans two decades, all at the collegiate level, beginning in 1991 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater. Most recently, Ricumstrict served as an assistant at Eastern Illinois, coaching defensive ends. One year earlier, he spent a season at Central Missouri, where he directed special teams and the linebackers.

Prior to working at Central Missouri, Ricumstrict spent six years in the Big Ten with Indiana (2005-10) as the co-special teams coordinator and defensive ends and linebackers coach.

In 2000, Ricumstrict returned to CMU to coach linebackers and special teams under head coach Mike DeBord and remained on staff through 2003. In 2004, he coached the linebackers at Miami (Ohio).

Prior to his stint at CMU, Ricumstrict served in a variety of coaching roles at a number of stops including Northwood (1993-94), Wayne State (1995), Michigan State (1996), Army (1997), and Missouri Southern (1998-99).

Ricumstrict was a four-year letterman from 1985-88 at CMU, contributing to 24 wins during his career. In his senior year, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player and received Second Team All-MAC recognition as an inside linebacker. That season, he was honored as MAC Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions, the first for a 10-tackle performance against Montana State, followed by a 10-stop, two-interception ledger against Toledo. He returned one of those picks 71 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with 121 total tackles, including 71 solos and 11 for loss, and had three interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Ricumstrict was also the recipient of the 1988 Kurt Dobronski Award, an honor presented annually to the Central Michigan senior who demonstrates great effort, intensity and appreciation for the football program.

For his CMU career, the Detroit native and Northwestern High School grad compiled 266 total tackles (126 solos), 18 stops for a loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three interceptions.

Ricumstrict earned both his bachelor's degree (1990) and master's degree (1992) from Central Michigan.

Ricumstrict and his wife, Sandy, have two sons, Obie and Anton.