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

By Kyler Kregel

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

5. Barry Odom (Arkansas Razorbacks)

The Arkansas Razorbacks had a bit of a breakout year under Sam Pittman this year, going 9-4 and finishing the season ranked 21st nationally in the AP poll. 

Much of that comes from the turnaround that Odom’s defense oversaw, going from 95th in scoring defense his first season all the way up to 43rd this past season.

A longtime assistant and then head coach at his alma mater, Missouri, Odom is another well-regarded defensive mind who did not make it as a head coach but has thrived as a veteran defensive coordinator. And at 45-years old, Odom will likely get another opportunity to be a head coach once again, but in the meantime could benefit from running a defense like Michigan’s for a couple of seasons before that happens.

6. Anthony Weaver (Baltimore Ravens)

The 41-year old former defensive lineman out of Notre Dame is another candidate Michigan could look at. Weaver, currently the defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, reportedly interviewed for the Ravens defensive coordinator job, which now appears to be Mike Macdonald’s to accept.

He got his start as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, but then made the jump to the NFL quickly, working his way up the ladder to become the Houston Texans defensive coordinator in 2020, Bill O’Brien’s final season there.

O’Brien and the staff were ultimately let go, but Weaver landed in Baltimore, where he played for four seasons and impressed enough to warrant consideration for their position as well.

Still, a very well-regarded name in the coaching industry, perhaps Michigan football would once again go back to the ranks of the Ravens staff to find a coordinator, albeit this one at least with some experience running their own defense prior.

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