When you have as much success as Michigan football has had on defense, it's only natural that the NFL and others would try to hire away Michigan assistant coaches.
We have seen the Wolverines have to hire a defensive coordinator a few times since 2021. Don Brown was fired, then only Jesse Minter stayed for more than one season.
It looked like Wink Martindale might be headed out the door. He interviewed with multiple NFL teams for their defensive coordinator positions but it seems like he will return at this point, unless something changes.
However, one defensive assistant who has coached with Martindale for years and who joined him at Michigan football -- Kevin Wilkins. Michigan football fans might not know a ton about Wilkins but he joined the staff as a defensive analyst.
However, the NCAA changed the rules in terms of how many on-field coaches were allowed. Wilkins coached outside linebackers and was incredibly successful last season working with guys like Josaiah Stewart and T.J. Guy who had career years in terms of sacks.
Wilkins is expected to be hired away by the Jacksonville Jaguars according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. The Jaguars will be hiring him as their assistant linebackers coach.
It's a bummer but also not a shock. When you have success you will lose assistant coaches. Wilkins worked under Martindale in New York and Baltimore, so his aim was probably always to get back into the NFL.
It will be interesting to see if Michigan brings in a replacement. There could be someone on staff internally ready to take it over, or maybe they will bring in another dude with NFL experience, but either way, Michigan football is an attractive place for defensive assistants.
That's as true now as it has ever been.