From the Field to the Sidelines: Former Michigan Football Players Embark on Coaching Careers
As the playing careers of Michigan football players conclude, it has become increasingly common for them to transition into coaching roles.
In recent years, several former players, including Khalid Hill, Mike McCray, Joe Bolden, and Desmond Morgan, have secured coaching positions at the collegiate level. Notably, Grant Newsome currently serves as Michigan’s offensive line coach. Additionally, former safety Brad Hawkins is set to join the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in Ann Arbor this year. However, collegiate coaching is not the sole pathway for former Wolverines.
Excited to announce that I will be joining the @midtownmiddies football program as their Defensive Coordinator! @CoachKRJones #MAGIC
— Tyree Kinnel (@Tkinnel_2) March 4, 2024
Consider the case of former safety Tyree Kinnel, originally from Ohio but migrating north to play college football. According to his X account (formerly Twitter), Kinnel is returning to his home state to assume the role of defensive coordinator for the Middletown Middies, a high school program situated between Dayton — Kinnel’s hometown of Huber Heights — and Cincinnati.
This opportunity presents a promising prospect for Kinnel to demonstrate his coaching capabilities while still early in his career. Success in this role could potentially open doors to greater opportunities and career advancement in the future.
