Michigan reportedly losing another assistant coach to Jim Harbaugh's Chargers
Michigan is losing another assistant coach from Jim Harbaugh’s staff.
According to multiple reports, Steve Clinkscale is leaving his role as the Wolverines’ defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator to join Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Free Press’s Tony Garcia first reported the development. A Youngstown, Ohio native, Clinkscale just wrapped his third season with the Wolverines.
Clinkscale will have the same role on Harbaugh’s Charger staff.
He becomes the third U-M assistant to follow Harbaugh to Los Angeles, joining defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and defensive line coach Mike Elston. Strength coach Ben Herbert also left for a job with the Chargers. Michigan has also lost special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh to the Seattle Seahawks.
On Friday, reports emerged that Michigan was working toward a deal to make longtime NFL assistant Wink Martindale its next defensive coordinator. Though first-year head coach Sherrone Moore has said he’d like to keep as much of the national title-winning operation together, he has had a number of new hires to make.
Clinkscale had previous stints coaching defensive backs at Illinois (2012), Cincinnati (2013-15), and Kentucky (2016-20) prior to landing in Ann Arbor.
His time with the Wolverines was marked by major success. Michigan ranked top-10 nationally in per-play pass defense during each of Clinkscale’s three years with the program. U-M gave up 6.3 yards per pass in 2021 (10th), 5.9 per pass in 2022 (sixth), and 5.7 in 2023 (fifth).
Two Michigan defensive backs were drafted under Clinkscale’s watch — first-round pick Dax Hill and second-round pick D.J. Turner. Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace figure to be drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. Will Johnson and Rod Moore look like future draft picks as well.
In addition to his on-field contributions, Clinkscale was a key recruiter for the Wolverines on the trail. Given the players he was credited with helping U-M sign, 247Sports ranked him the 10th-best recruiter in the Big Ten during the 2024 cycle (and No. 32 nationally).