Michigan football has undergone significant changes in its coaching staff, with Jim Harbaugh and much of last year’s staff moving to the NFL. Sherrone Moore faced the challenging task of replacing almost the entire staff, but early feedback from fans and commentators indicates a generally positive reception to the new hires.
Here are the grades for each new defensive assistant coach brought to Ann Arbor this winter:
Don “Wink” Martindale: B
Martindale’s hiring has been met with mixed reactions. One positive aspect is his role as the original coach of the Ravens’ defense, which was later run by Jesse Minter and Mike Macdonald at Michigan. He is also known as a player’s coach who fosters a positive atmosphere in the locker room.
However, I gave Martindale a B for a few reasons. Firstly, his tenure at Michigan might be short-lived due to his age—he is 60 years old—and his recent alleged dispute with New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, which led to him missing the NFL coaching cycle. With 19 seasons of NFL coaching experience, Martindale will likely face a learning curve in adjusting to the college or high school recruiting landscape, both schematically and in building relationships with players.
Brian Jean-Mary: A+
What strengthens Martindale’s position is the caliber of coaches surrounding him, particularly Brian Jean-Mary.
Jean-Mary’s expertise in recruiting is exceptional and will compensate for any shortcomings Martindale may have in that area. During his first stint at Michigan, Jean-Mary played a key role in recruiting Jaydon Hood and Junior Colson, both highly rated four-star recruits. Additionally, he boasts an impressive record of 10 NFL Draft picks and has contributed to seven top-15 recruiting classes in his 18 seasons as a Division I assistant coach.
