10 Candidates to replace Mike Macdonald as Michigan Football’s DC

News broke this Wednesday afternoon that Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is likely departing the Wolverines after one season to rejoin the Baltimore Ravens, this time as defensive coordinator. We take a look at potential replacements.

According to a report from On3’s TheWolverine.com, Michigan football’s defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is expected to accept an offer to become the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, replacing his former mentor Don “Wink” Martindale, who was let go on January 21st.

Macdonald joined Michigan football from the Ravens staff last offseason after Jim Harbaugh began his search for a replacement for Don Brown.

A highly-regarded linebackers coach under Martindale and John Harbaugh, Macdonald jumped at the opportunity to run his own defense. He produced a terrific result in year one, leading the Wolverines to the 8th ranked scoring defense in college football and helping pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo develop into likely first-round picks.

We now take a look at 10 potential candidates to be Michigan football’s next DC.

1. An Internal Promotion….or Two?

The easiest in-house solution would be to promote either defensive backs coach Steven Clinkscale or new defensive line coach Mike Elston to the defensive coordinator position.

Clinkscale did a terrific job with Michigan’s cornerbacks last season and seems likely to be on his way to being a coordinator sooner or later.

Elston just recently joined the Wolverines staff, but has long been regarded as a top assistant in the college landscape, and was a candidate for the Irish defensive coordinator position, but was passed up for the position, ultimately spurring his move to Ann Arbor.

Either has the credibility and resume to take over, and whether that’s one or the other individually, or the two sharing co-defensive coordinator titles and the responsibility, there certainly are some promising options internally.