The Rich Rodriguez era officially has its second defensive coordinator.

Greg Robinson, who was fired from his head coaching position at Syracuse on Nov. 17, 2008, two games before the end of his fourth season, will take over the Michigan football team’s defense next season.

Robinson replaces Scott Shafer, who resigned after the Wolverines’ 3-9 campaign. Despite having a defense full of veterans that was expected to be the team's strong point last year, Shafer’s unit was largely a disappointment during Rodriguez’s first season in Ann Arbor.

Before his time at Syracuse, Robinson proved himself an apt defensively minded coach, with stints as defensive coordinator at the Kansas City Chiefs, the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets — 10 years total. During his time in Denver, Robinson won two Super Bowls.

"Greg brings a wealth of experience as a defensive coordinator, both at the collegiate and professional level," Rodriguez said in a statement released by the Athletic Department. "We are excited to have Greg, Laura and their entire family join our Michigan family. I know that Greg will work well with our defensive staff, entire football staff and players."

Robinson also has coordinator experience at the college level, spending the 2004 season as Texas’s co-defensive coordinator and eight seasons at UCLA as the Bruins’ defensive line coach.

“Greg's a high energy, creative, hard-working guy who has had success at both the NFL and collegiate levels,” Texas coach Mack Brown said in another statement released by University of Michigan Athletic Department. “He's a veteran coach with a wealth of knowledge who the players really respond to. His season here in 2004 produced one of the best defenses in Texas history and helped set the stage for our National Championship season in 2005."

But at Syracuse, Robinson posted a dismal 10-37 record, never finishing higher than seventh place in the eight-team Big East conference.

Of the nation's 119 teams, Syracuse posted the 101st ranked scoring defense last season.

Though he immediately threw his hat in the ring for coaching positions around the nation after being fired, Robinson recently suggested that he hadn't gotten over losing his job at Syracuse.

“My stomach is sick,” Robinson told The (Syracuse, N.Y.) Post-Script Standard at his final press conference last month. “I need relief. I need a pill, because I'm sick to my stomach that it's done. That's what I hate. It's what's in my gut. Shoot. That's the biggest regret. Pulling boxes into my office. That's ugly. It is.”