Michigan announces additions to defensive staff

First-year Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore had to replace the defensive staff, and while the hires have been reported, they were made formal on Friday in a news release by the program.

Moore succeeded Jim Harbaugh, who spent the last nine seasons coaching the Wolverines and led them to a national championship in January. Harbaugh is now with the Los Angeles Chargers and Moore, who had been offensive line coach the last three seasons and offensive coordinator last fall, was named head coach two days after Harbaugh’s departure.

Don “Wink” Martindale, coming off nearly two decades of NFL coaching and is the architect of the defensive scheme hatched with the Baltimore Ravens that Michigan has implemented the past three seasons, is the new defensive coordinator.

“He has coached Hall of Fame players, coordinated some of the best defenses in football and his expertise and knowledge will help our players excel on the field,” Moore said in the release. “We are so excited to have the mentor to so many great defensive players and coaches join our staff at Michigan.”

Martindale last coached college football in 2003 at Western Kentucky before a long NFL career.

Greg Scruggs, will coach the defensive line, Brian Jean-Mary, who was on Michigan’s staff in 2020, returns as linebackers coach/run-game coordinator, and LaMar Morgan is the defensive backs coach/pass-game coordinator. Former Michigan defensive back Brad Hawkins has joined the staff as a graduate assistant.  Scruggs most recently coached at Wisconsin, Jean-Mary was at Tennessee, and Morgan was at Louisiana.

Jesse Minter, Michigan’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons, joined Harbaugh at the Chargers as have former defensive backs/pass-game coordinator Steve Clinkscale and defensive line coach Mike Elston. Safeties coach/special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh is now with the Seattle Seahawks.

achengelis@detroitnews.com

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