Report: Michigan hiring Vanderbilt DC for same role with Wolverines
Jim Harbaugh is reportedly zeroing in on his next defensive coordinator at Michigan.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday that Michigan is expected to hire Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for the same role in Ann Arbor. Harbaugh needed to replace Mike Macdonald, who returned to Baltimore to be the Ravens’ DC after one season with the Wolverines.
Minter spent one year in Nashville with the Commodores. Prior to that, Minter spent four seasons on John Harbaugh’s staff with the Ravens. Sound familiar?
Sources: Michigan is expected to hire Vanderbilt’s Jesse Minter as the school’s new defensive coordinator. He’s a former Ravens assistant who brings experience in defensive system.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 8, 2022
After firing Don Brown following the 2020 season, Jim Harbaugh landed his next DC, Macdonald, from his brother’s NFL staff. Since it worked so well, it appears Michigan is going back to the well for its newest defensive coordinator.
While with Baltimore, Minter spent two seasons as a defensive assistant before being promoted to assistant defensive backs coach in 2019. In 2020, Minter was the primary defensive backs coach for the Ravens.
Minter has had stops at Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Indiana State and Georgia State. He was the defensive coordinator at Indiana State from 2011-12 before taking on the same role at Georgia State from 2013-16.
Coming into Ann Arbor, Minter will have some big shoes to fill. Michigan’s defense was one of the best in the country last season, propelling the Wolverines to a 12-2 season, a B1G title and a College Football Playoff appearance. With losses of Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill, David Ojabo, Josh Ross and many others, it’s going to be interesting to see how quickly Minter gets into a rhythm in Ann Arbor.