What Mike Macdonald’s departure means for Michigan Football
In 2021 Jim Harbaugh hired a 34-year-old NFL assistant to coach his defense. One year later, Mike McDonald is leaving Michigan football for the NFL.
Mike Macdonald’s impact
Michigan football’s defense went from one of the worst in college football to one of the most dominant units in the nation during Macdonald’s first season. According to Pro Football Focus, Macdonald would help Michigan achieve a top-four defense in the country and make a name for himself as a top-defensive play-caller in the sport.
Macdonald’s reputation was well earned but ultimately led to his return to the NFL.
Michigan will now be faced with a decision on who will fill the shoes of the one-year defensive coordinator. Hiring within the program is always an option. The Wolverines did recently hire Mike Elston, one of Notre Dame’s top defensive coaches since 2010.
Issues Michigan may face with Mike Macdonald’s departure
Regardless of who Michigan football chooses to hire in Macdonald’s place, problems may still arise.
The Wolverines will have a young defense next season, most of which have been learning and adjusting to Macdonald’s defensive strategy and scheme since his arrival. The Wolverines young core will need to relearn and reload under a new defensive coach with different systems and likely an entirely new approach.
With the addition of the transfer portal, Michigan football will potentially lose players. Though Macdonald was not the Wolverines head coach, he still played a prominent role in play-calling and development. If Michigan is not careful, a handful of players could leave.
That being said, Macdonald was never a massive recruiter for the Wolverines. This means that it is unlikely that players will leave because of his departure.
Michigan’s best defensive recruiting coaches are still on staff, and there is no indication that any players are planning on de-committing or transferring because of his loss, at least not yet.
How Macdonald’s departure will impact Michigan
At the moment, the scale of the loss of Mike Macdonald is unknown, though its most significant impact will likely be in play-calling and defensive schemes. Michigan football will now be on the lookout for its next defensive coordinator and they should have plenty of options.
Michigan having a young defense with a talented recruiting class on its way in might benefit the Wolverines more than it hurts them. Young players are very malleable and will have an easier time learning a new playbook and adjusting to new schemes.
Don't freak out about Mike Macdonald. dark. Next
Though Mike Macdonald was a high-caliber play-caller, he was not a great recruiter and his exit will now open up a spot for a better recruiting coach to fill in on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. If there are any positives from this situation, this would be it.