Michigan Football: What to know about possible DB coach Jesse Minter

It looks like Jesse Minter of the Baltimore Ravens is on track to be Michigan football’s next assistant coach hired and here’s what to know about him.

Michigan football still hasn’t announced its new defensive coordinator but it’s expected to be Mike Macdonald and he’s already working on building a staff.

It seems like Macdonald is going to be the sole defensive coordinator at this point but it was reported that there will at least be another new assistant in the secondary as cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich would not be brought back.

And while there is probably a long list of candidates to replace Zordich, one that makes a lot of sense and is getting traction according to Chris Balas of The Wolverine is Jesse Minter, another assistant with the Ravens — the team Macdonald works for right now too.

As far as cornerbacks go, Minter would be a really good hire for a couple of reasons. His current position with the Ravens is secondary coach and you wonder if he was hired by Michigan football if that would be his title.

What to like about Minter

Michigan does have a need for a safeties coach and a cornerbacks coach and that could allow U-M to add an extra coach either on offense or defense if Minter was hired to coach both.

Say if Michigan wanted to find an experienced co-coordinator on offense or defense that could allow it to do so.

He’s spent the past four seasons with the Ravens but prior to that, he coached at Georgia State and he was a defensive coordinator there and was even nominated for the Broyles Award which is the award for the nation’s top assistant coach.

According to his Ravens coaching profile, he was named the Sun Belt Conference’s top recruiter twice and his defense also ranked seventh in pass efficiency during his final season, so that expertise could really help in an area the Wolverines have struggled, at least against top-level programs.

Beyond that, you have to like that Minter has a relationship with Macdonald since they are on the same staff and it makes sense to bring on a coach who will have a similar philosophy in the secondary. Zordich fit better with Don Brown and Minter would fit perfectly with Macdonald.

He would also bring experience as a coordinator, which along with Brian Jean-Mary would give the Wolverines two former defensive coordinators on the staff to assist Macdonald, who will be a first-time coordinator.

Some fans have expressed worry about that with Macdonald and it’s a fair point. But everyone needs a shot at some point and in both Minter and Macdonald, the Wolverines are getting up-and-coming coaches who were viewed as rising in the NFL.

Will they work out? We honestly don’t know. We still can’t say whether or not Josh Gattis has been a success. He’s had his moments and his difficulties.

But the logic behind hiring Macdonald and Minter — if that’s how it works out — is sound and you have the like the direction Harbaugh is going, especially with the addition of Mike Hart this week.

Harbaugh seems focused on young guys who know how to recruit and also who like Gattis bring a different approach, which is something that’s desperately been needed.