Now that Michigan football has found its head coach, the Wolverines need to find their new defensive coordinator as it was confirmed that Jesse Minter will leave for the NFL.
It's a blow to lose Jesse Minter, but it was expected. He's certain to wind up going to Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh and frankly, good luck to both of those guys. The NFL is where they want to be. I'm guessing that Jay Harbaugh will follow as the special teams coach.
While that's going to be an important hire too -- special teams coach -- defensive coordinator is the first big hire for Sherrone Moore and here are three options that make sense.
Chris Hewitt, secondary coach defensive passing game coordinator, Ravens
Will it work a third time? Michigan football has been pretty successful in taking defensive coaches from Baltimore and making them defensive coordinators. Sherrone Moore said that he wants to keep using that same system of defense.
That could mean the new defensive coordinator learning the system and terminology -- if the hire was someone like former Wisconsin DC Jim Leonhard. But hiring someone like Chris Hewitt would make a ton of sense.
Hewitt has been with the Ravens since 2012. But he's also spent time in the college game with Notre Dame and Rutgers. He's done an exceptional job in the secondary for Baltimore and would probably jump at the chance to coordinate a Michigan football defense.
It certainly helped the careers of Minter and Mike Macdonald. It seems as though Macdonald will be back with the Ravens next season and if I was Sherrone Moore, I'd talk to the Harbaugh's (John and Jim) about which Ravens assistant wants to be the next Michigan DC.
Zachary Orr, Ravens ILB coach
Speaking of Ravens defensive assistants, Zachary Orr is another name that Michigan football could consider. He doesn't have quite as much experience as Hewitt does. But Orr is a former NFL player and has coached both inside and outside linebackers for the Ravens and Jaguars.
Orr is in his second season, in his second stint with the Ravens. He has coached for two years under Macdonald but spent five seasons total with the Ravens and Jags as an assistant. Macdonald used to be a linebackers coach with the Ravens before he became Michigan football defensive coordinator in 2021. Minter used to work in the secondary and if John Harbaugh gives either a reccomendation to Moore, I think that would go a long way.
John was willing to help Michigan when Jim was there and I don't think that will change. So keep an eye on both Orr and Hewitt.
Steve Clinkscale, Michigan co-defensive coordinator
Another guy who needs to be considered is current co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale. He was hired as the defensive passing game coordinator back in the 2021 season and met all of the incentives in his contract to become a co-defensive coordinator.
There's a reason that the pass defenses are outstanding wherever he goes. Not only is Ciink elite when it comes to recruiting, he's an elite coach. I'm sure how he would be as a defensive playcaller, but it would be interesting to give him a shot.
The Wolverines had a top-30 pass defense in his first season in Ann Arbor and it's only gotten better. The development of his guys on the back end has been extremely impressive too. Kentucky also led the SEC in pass defense in three of his last four seasons there.
Clink can coach. He's going to want a chance to be a defensive coordinator soon. That's the next step in his career development, so Moore should consider him. I don't think the defense would take a huge step back, although if you had to take Clink away from coaching defensive backs to coordinate the defense, then it might not be worth it.