The Michigan Wolverines are adjusting to a temporary leadership shuffle, as Sherrone Moore serves his two-game suspension. Filling the gap is Biff Poggi, a name that resonates in football circles for more than just his eccentric personality. Poggi, who once played offensive line at both Pittsburgh and Duke in the late 1970s, has lived a career defined by pivots. He walked away from finance after building fortune with his father-in-law, leaving Wall Street’s grind to chase coaching dreams in the 1980s. From running hedge funds to running high school practices, Poggi has carved out a life less ordinary—now returning to UM’s sideline under the national spotlight.
Who are Biff Poggi’s parents?
Biff Poggi’s roots trace back to Baltimore, Maryland, where he was born and raised in the city’s iconic “Little Italy” neighborhood. Poggi grew up the son of Italian immigrants, raised in a tight-knit community where family and tradition carried weight. His father worked as a pharmacist in a low-income area, a grounding influence that gave Poggi a firsthand view of hard work and humility. While their names remain private, his parents’ background and sacrifices clearly shaped the trajectory of his path, instilling the resilience he would later carry into both finance and football.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Meet Biff Poggi’s wife, Amy Poggi
Poggi’s journey took a defining turn at Duke University, where he met Amy Mix, his future wife. A classmate from the Class of 1985, Amy graduated the same year as Biff. The two were married on March 8, 1986, at St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, a union that has since spanned nearly four decades.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Amy has been far more than just a supportive partner on the sidelines. In the early years of their marriage, Biff taught European history, but when the opportunity came to join his father-in-law’s hedge fund, Amy was there for the transition. That venture, Samuel James Limited, was founded in 1986 and grew to be valued at hundreds of millions of dollars over three decades. Together, the couple has balanced life in finance and football, their shared resilience allowing Biff to later walk away from wealth to pursue the grind of coaching full-time.
Does Biff Poggi have children?
The Poggi household is large, full of both legacy and football DNA. 63 YO Biff and Amy have five children: Mary, Mellie, Sam, Jim, and Henry. The family has produced standout athletes and professionals alike. Jim Poggi carried on the football line, playing first at Gilman School and later at the University of Iowa. “He gave me a lot of advice and he gave me his thoughts on certain people, certain places,” Jim said. “But he was very forward in saying, ‘This is your career, not mine. I already played. You go wherever you want to go.’”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Henry Poggi, born on August 9, 1994, made his mark as a running back at Michigan from 2014 to 2017, tying the family even more tightly to Wolverines history. He was excited when Biff was about to join UM as an associate head coach/special adviser. “Any time spent with your dad is time well spent,” Poggi said. “It’s his decision, but he’s got a lot of stuff on his plate. He’s a busy man.” Their son Sam stayed connected to the game too, now serving as the defensive line coach at St. Frances Academy, the Baltimore powerhouse program his father helped elevate.
The daughters have carved their own impactful paths. Mellie pursued a career in medicine, earning her education at the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore before marrying her longtime partner, Tom. Their eldest daughter, Mary, has remained more private, with fewer public details about her professional journey. Beyond their children, Biff and Amy have stepped into a new role—grandparents. With six grandchildren, their family legacy stretches across three generations, woven together by sports, service, and education.