Michigan Football: Wolverines closing in on new assistant hire?

Michigan football is going after Kentucky assistant Steve Clinkscale to replace Maurice Linguist and here’s the latest. 

It’s only been a few days since Maurice Linguist left Michigan football for the head coaching job in Buffalo, but it seems like Jim Harbaugh is closing in on a replacement.

With Michigan previously targeting Clink in other coaching searches, he was among the early favorites to get the job.

Yet, Clink has been at Kentucky and the Wildcats have been building something under Mark Stoops, so it wasn’t a forgone conclusion that he would come and still isn’t.

But, some reporting on Monday from Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider (subscription required) makes it sounds as though it’s only a matter of time.

His title, “Clink on the Brink” is a strong hint. But Webb also reports that an interview is supposed to take place this week. Obviously, that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen but there seems to be momentum headed in that direction.

Kentucky is surely going to make a push to hire Clink and will probably come at him with a raise as he currently makes $500,000 and has a contract set to expire after this season.

Linguist was making upwards of $750,000 or at least he was going to make that this season for Michigan football, so U-M can offer Clink a hefty raise. To be safe, the Wolverines should go beyond what they were going to pay Linguist, just to get the deal done.

Chris Hawkins as runner-up?

If Michigan football doesn’t wind up hiring Clink away from Kentucky, another option is Arizona State cornerbacks coach Chris Hawkins.

Hawkins is young but is an excellent recruiter. He was able to talk Will Johnson into taking a self-guided visit to Arizona State and his hiring could have a positive impact on Domani Jackson.

Yet, he’s only 26 and this position is about more than recruiting. Michigan football needs someone that can at least be the passing game coordinator on defense and it’s hard to say if Hawkins could take on that role.

Right now, if I was a betting man, I’d say this is Clink against the field and I’d take Clink. He has always felt like the first choice.

But if something doesn’t happen soon, then Michigan will be looking at guys like Hawkins, Roy Manning, and Cory Robinson. Those hires could be really good, but Clink feels like more of a sure thing and a better overall fit for what U-M needs.