Chargers Coaches | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

With 23 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, leading and teaching some of the best defensive players in college football over two-plus decades, Mike Elston joined the Chargers in 2024 as defensive line coach for his first foray into the NFL. Elston held that position for two years before a promotion to defensive run game coordinator/defensive line coach beginning in the 2026 season.

With 23 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, leading and teaching some of the best defensive players in college football over two-plus decades, Mike Elston joined the Chargers in 2024 as defensive line coach for his first foray into the NFL. Elston held that position for two years before a promotion to defensive run game coordinator/defensive line coach beginning in the 2026 season.

Last season, Elston coached a defensive line group that helped the Chargers rank No. 5 in the NFL in both total defense (285.2 total net yards allowed per game) and passing defense (179.9 net passing yards allowed per game). The unit was also among football's most clutch, ranking inside the top five on third down (fifth) and in the red zone (fourth). The group was led by second-year defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, who set a career high and ranked third on the team with six sacks. Eboigbe had a pair of games with two-plus sacks, making him one of just four NFL interior defensive linemen in 2025 to have multiple multi-sack games. The group also saw defensive lineman Teair Tart be among one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the NFL, totaling 32 tackles and breaking up four passes, including two in the season-opening victory against Kansas City in São Paulo, Brazil.

Elston coached a defensive line in 2024 that anchored the NFL's top scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game. The group's hard-nosed mentality was key to the defense being the league's best in the red zone, allowing just 18 touchdowns on 40 drives in the red zone. The Los Angeles defense was also ranked No. 5 on third down (35.7 pct.) and seventh in passing defense (206.9 net passing yards per game).

The defensive line featured Morgan Fox, who led the room with 3.5 sacks, and Poona Ford, who set career bests in tackles for loss (eight) and pass breakups (five), while picking off the first pass of his career and tying career highs in sacks (three) and quarterback hits (nine). Ford's Week 1 performance made him just the second interior defensive lineman in the last 15 seasons to have a tackle for loss, an interception and multiple pass breakups in a single game. Elston also helped transition fullback/defensive lineman Scott Matlock to contribute on offense as well as defense, as Matlock played over 120 snaps each on offense, defense and special teams, becoming the first NFL player to do so in the last 15 years.

Elston arrived in Los Angeles after directing the defensive line at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, helping the unit guide the Wolverines to a CFP National Championship and perfect 15-0 record in 2023. Elston's front helped Michigan defense lead the nation in total defense (247.0) and scoring defense (10.4), allowing just 17 defensive touchdowns over 15 games, the second fewest by any unit in the country despite playing in two more games than the leader.

The former Maize and Blue linebacker returned to Michigan in 2022, helping four Wolverines defensive linemen earn All-Big Ten recognition, as Mike Morris was named Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and Mazi Smith, who joined Morris with All-America honors, was later selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. The Michigan defense finished top-10 in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and defensive pass efficiency en route to an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Prior to his time in Ann Arbor, Elston spent 12 seasons at the University of Notre Dame in a variety of capacities, helping the Irish reach 11 bowl games, including two CFP appearances and one BCS National Championship Game berth. Elston tutored 12 eventual NFL Draft selections while at Notre Dame, including five defensive linemen selected from 2019-21.

Elston started his decade-plus tenure in South Bend as special teams coordinator/defensive line in 2010, a post he would hold for two seasons, before serving primarily as the defensive line coach from 2012-14. Elston added the role of recruiting coordinator in 2015, coaching linebackers for two seasons, before returning to lead the defensive line in 2017. He then was Notre Dame's associate head coach from 2017-20, while continuing to direct the defensive line, before advancing to run game coordinator in 2021, his final season with the Irish. Notre Dame reached double-digit wins in each of Elston's final five seasons coaching for the Irish.

As run game coordinator in 2021, Elston helped direct a defense that ranked top-10 in third-down conversion rate (10th) and defensive touchdowns allowed (seventh), as the Irish appeared in the 2022 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and finished the season ranked eighth in the final AP Poll. One season prior, Notre Dame's defense ranked sixth in the nation in third-down conversion percentage, totaling six straight games of allowing less than 100 yards rushing by the opponent in 2020, paving the way toward the program's second appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Irish's run support was guided by standout efforts from defensive linemen Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Kurt Hinish, who joined linebackers Ade Ogundeji and Daelin Hayes as All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees.

Elston helped lead a Notre Dame squad that reached 12 wins for just the second time since 1990 in 2018, as the Irish made their first appearance in the College Football Playoff in his first season as associate head coach/defensive line. His defensive front combined for 23.5 sacks and over 40 tackles for loss in 2018. Elston's guidance and development proved critical in 2015, Elston's first season coaching the linebackers group, as consensus All-American linebacker Jaylon Smith became the only Power 5 linebacker to eclipse 100 tackles in back-to-back seasons. Elston's path also included the development of Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix III, who were selected in the second and third rounds, respectively, of the 2014 NFL Draft, as the pair became the first tandem of Notre Dame defensive linemen to each be chosen in the top three rounds of the same draft since 1997. Elston's group in 2012 helped the defense remain stout, allowing just four rushing touchdowns — the fewest by any team in the FBS that season.

After his playing career culminated, Elston remained at Michigan, serving as a student assistant for the Wolverines' 1997 National Championship season, his first step in the coaching profession. After assisting the staff as a video intern in 1998, Elston moved into a graduate assistant role, working with the outside linebackers in 1999 and 2000, before landing a full-time position at Eastern Michigan University in 2001. Elston spent three seasons at Easton Michigan (2001-03), advancing to recruiting coordinator/defensive line over his final two years.

Elston then spent three seasons at Central Michigan University, starting as the Chippewas defensive line coach before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator/defensive line in 2005, before overseeing the special teams units and coaching linebackers in 2006. As co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach in 2005, Elston's mentorship of Dan Bazuin helped the eventual MAC Defensive Player of the Year lead the nation with 26.5 tackles for loss and secure a conference-record 16 sacks. Coaching the CMU linebackers in 2006, two of his players earned All-Mid-American Conference recognition, as Thomas Keith led the conference in tackles.

After his time at Central Michigan, and prior to his tenure at Notre Dame, Elston coordinated the special teams units at the University of Cincinnati for three seasons (2007-09), elevating to assistant head coach in his final season with the Bearcats in 2009. Over his three years at Cincinnati, a Bearcat was named Big East Special Teams Player of the Year, starting with punter Kevin Huber in 2007, followed by returner Mardy Gilyard in back-to-back seasons (2008 and 09). Huber twice earned All-America status (2007 and 2008) after helping the Bearcats unit lead the nation in net punting each season.

A native of St. Mary's, Ohio, Elston played collegiately at Michigan (1993-96). A linebacker for the Wolverines, earning three varsity letters, he helped Michigan accumulate a 35-16 record, including two bowl game victories.

Elston and his wife, Beth, have three daughters — Olivia, Sophia and Isabella.