Michael Zordich
Assistant Coach
First Season
(Penn State, 1986)

    A 12-year National Football League veteran, and a Youngstown native, Michael Zordich is in his first year as safeties coach on the Youngstown State coaching staff.
    Zordich spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, five with the Arizona Cardinals and two with New York Jets. He retired from the league following the 1998 season, which he spent in Philadelphia.
    Since his retirement from professional football, Zordich has spent time on the high school level as an assistant coach and worked in private business. He coach two seasons Chaney High School, but spent most of his time as an assistant at Cardinal Mooney High School. He has also helped with YSU's summer football camps on an annual basis.
    During his 12 seasons as a safety in the NFL, Zordich played in 185 games, making 125 starts. He finished his career with nearly 600 total tackles, 20 interceptions and scored four touchdowns. He returned interceptions for touchdowns in 1988, 1989 and 1994 and returned a fumble for a score in 1995. He also had 11 fumble recoveries, six sacks and six forced fumbles during his career.
    After an All-America career at Penn State, Zordich was drafted in the ninth round of the 1986 draft by the San Diego Chargers.
    He joined the Jets in 1987 playing in 10 games, mostly on special teams. In 1988, he returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown while appearing in all 16 games.
    He spent the next five seasons playing in Arizona for the then Phoenix Cardinals. In Phoenix, he 289 total tackles and seven interceptions. He played 80 games and started 49 for the Cardinals. During the 1991 and 1992 seasons, he started every game.
    Zordich ended his career with a stellar five years with the Eagles. For Philadelphia, he started 79 of a possible 80 games over a five-year period. During his final four seasons he was team captain and he led the team in tackles his first year in 1994. He had 12 interceptions, four sacks, four forced fumbles and 281 tackles. He returned an interception and a fumble for a score while playing for the franchise. For his efforts he was a two-time All-Madden Team selection. He reached the playoffs twice with the franchise in 1996 and 1997.
    At Penn State, Zordich was an All-America safety for the Nittany Lions as a senior while serving as a team captain. He earned All-America accolades by the Football Writers and Scripps-Howard following the 1985 campaign. He had 60 tackles that season and returned an interception for a touchdown against Maryland. For his career, he recorded 201 tackles.
    Zordich earned his bachelor's in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Penn State in 1986. He is a graduate of Chaney High School.
    Michael and his wife Cynthia, reside in Canfield. They have two sons, Michael and Alex, and a daughter Aidan. Michael is a linebacker at Penn State and is a finance major. Alex plays quarterback at Cardinal Mooney High School and Aidan is a member of the Cardinals' track and field squad.