Jeff Brohm is reshaping the defensive brain trust at Louisville, and on Tuesday, he made it official: Mark Ivey and Steve Ellis will serve as co-defensive coordinators heading into the next chapter of the Cardinals' football journey.
The move comes as Ron English and Mark Hagen, last season’s coordinators, are stepping away from the program. In their place, Brohm is doubling down on continuity and familiarity. Both Ivey and Ellis have been with him since he took the reins at Louisville in December 2022, and now they’ll be tasked with leading a defense that has shown flashes of real potential.
For Ivey, this is something of a homecoming. He’s shifting back to the defensive line-where he originally made his mark under former head coach Scott Satterfield-after spending time coaching the linebackers.
Ivey was the lone holdover from Satterfield’s staff when Brohm arrived, and his roots at Louisville run deep. He’s coached some serious talent in the trenches, including Yaya Diaby, who turned heads as a third-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
Ivey also played a key role in the early development of Ashton Gillotte before transitioning to mentor standout linebacker T.J. Quinn, who earned All-ACC honors.
Ellis, meanwhile, will continue to work with the secondary, a unit he’s helped mold into a pipeline to the pros. Since arriving from East Carolina, Ellis has been instrumental in the growth of cornerbacks like Jarvis Brownlee, Quincy Riley, and Corey Thornton-all of whom have earned spots on NFL rosters. His ability to develop talent and prepare players for the next level has been a major asset to the program.
The staff shuffle doesn’t stop there. Brohm is also elevating a pair of quality control specialists into more hands-on roles.
Adam Mueller will now oversee the linebackers as a defensive assistant, while Brandon Sharp takes over the safeties group in a similar capacity. It’s a sign that Brohm is putting trust in the internal development of his staff, not just his players.
On the offensive side, there's a familiar face returning to the fold. Paul Petrino, a former Louisville offensive coordinator and longtime Idaho head coach, is back in town.
He’ll serve as a Senior Offensive Assistant, with a focus on tight ends. Petrino brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the program’s culture.
Also making a return is Jontavius Morris, who previously served as a quality control coach. He’s stepping into a defensive assistant role, working with the defensive tackles. It's another move that reinforces Brohm’s commitment to building a staff that knows the program inside and out.
All told, these coaching changes reflect a clear direction: Brohm is leaning on trusted voices, proven developers, and program familiarity as he fine-tunes the Cardinals’ staff. With Ivey and Ellis leading the defense and experienced hands returning to key positions, Louisville is setting the table for a strong, cohesive push into the next season.