Michael Priefer Jr. - Football Coach

Michael Priefer Jr.

Title:
Defensive Graduate Assistant
Phone:
412-648-8700

Michael Priefer Jr. enters his second season as a defensive graduate assistant at Pitt.

Priefer joined the Panthers after serving as a special teams graduate assistant coach with the University of Minnesota during the 2018 season. The Golden Gophers led the entire nation in punt returns with a 22.25-yard average. Minnesota also boasted lofty national special teams rankings in net punting (eighth, 41.04 avg.), blocked punts (11th, two total) and kickoff returns (26th, 23.41 avg.).

The Gophers capped the year with a 34-10 victory over Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Priefer played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, lettering as a defensive back and return specialist. A native of Mound, Minn., he captained the football team and was a baseball letterman at Mound-Westonka High School.

Priefer is a 2017 graduate of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology sports pedagogy. His father, Mike Priefer, is the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. His grandfather, Chuck Priefer, was a longtime college and NFL coach, including a special teams coach with the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions.