Mike Goff, a 12-year NFL veteran and 2005 All-Pro, serves as WKU’s offensive line coach, a post he assumed in December 2018.
His career in the NFL included a runs with the Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2003), San Diego Chargers (2004-08) and Kansas City Chiefs (2009). Goff started 154 of his 171 career games in the league after he was drafted in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft following his collegiate career at Iowa. Goff was a four-year letterman for the Hawkeyes and started his final two seasons.
In his first season on The Hill in 2019, Goff helped develop WKU’s offensive line into one of the best groups in the country. PFF College ranked the Hilltoppers 20th in the FBS as an offensive line, including No. 1 in pass-blocking grade, while surrendering a pressure on only 12.7% of their pass-blocked snaps, which was the eight-lowest percentage in the nation.
Under the guidance Goff, Miles Pate was named First Team All-Conference USA, Jordan Meredith was C-USA Honorable Mention and Gunner Britton was also named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Meredith was also named a PFF College Honorable Mention All-American. He had a 79.3 overall PFF rating (fifth among FBS guards), a 89.3 pass block rating (second among FBS guards) and a 79.2 run block rating (tied for seventh among FBS guards).
Goff came to The Hill following four years on the USC staff where he assisted with the offensive line.
While assisting with the offensive line at USC, tackles Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler were All-American first teamers and All-Pac-12 first teamers (Banner also was a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award) in 2016. The USC offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. USC ranked sixth nationally in sacks allowed (0.9) and seventh in tackles for loss allowed (4.4). USC played in the Rose Bowl. In 2015, Banner made the All-Pac-12 first team, center Max Tuerk was a third round pick in the NFL Draft, and USC played in the Holiday Bowl.
Goff previously served as a volunteer assistant coach at San Diego State for two seasons (2010-11), working the offensive line, as the Aztecs played in the 2010 Poinsettia Bowl and 2011 New Orleans Bowl, and as an assistant coach at Hilltop High in Chula Vista (Calif.) in 2014.
He played football (prep All-American) and wrestling (sectional heavyweight champ) at LaSalle (Ill.)-Peru High. Goff earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Iowa in 2012. As a player at Iowa under legendary Hawkeye head coach Hayden Fry, Goff’s teams went to three bowl games including his final two seasons as a starter. Goff played in 47 games with 24 starts and, as a senior, he started all 12 games at right guard for the nation’s eight-ranked rushing attack.
While living in San Diego after his retirement from the NFL, he was a local sports radio and television analyst. In 2007, he cut his signature long hair and donated it to Locks of Love.
Goff and his wife, Jessica, have a daughter, Harper.
THE MIKE GOFF FILE
PERSONAL
Born: January 6, 1976
Hometown: Peru, Ill.
College: Iowa, ‘12
Wife: Jessica
Children: Harper
PLAYING CAREER (Offensive Line)
College: Iowa (1994-97)
Professional: Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2003), San Diego Chargers (2004-08), Kansas City Chiefs (2009)
COACHING CAREER
2010-11: San Diego State (Volunteer Assistant)
2014: Hilltop High School (Assistant Coach)
2015-18: USC (Offensive Assistant)
2019-present: WKU (Offensive Line)
