Breaking News: Michigan football has appointed a linebackers defense coordinator.
Michigan football has officially brought Brian Jean-Mary on board, as reported by The Michigan Insider. He is set to assume the roles of linebackers coach and run defense coordinator for the Wolverines.
The initial report about Sherrone Moore securing Jean-Mary’s commitment was made by TMI in mid-February. Following an extensive human resources process, his hiring has been formally confirmed as of Tuesday afternoon.
Jean-Mary arrives in Ann Arbor from Tennessee and joins defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive line coach Greg Scruggs as part of the coaching staff whose appointments have been finalized by the University this week.
Jean-Mary began his coaching journey as the secondary coach at North Alabama in 2003. However, it was his role as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech that marked a significant breakthrough in his career. According to his bio, “Jean-Mary spent six seasons coaching linebackers at Georgia Tech from 2004-09, guiding the defense to top 30 seasons in rushing defense, scoring defense, and total defense in five of his six years on staff.”
Former Michigan assistant Vance Bedford praised Jean-Mary as a remarkable hire by Jim Harbaugh back in the winter of 2020, citing his track record of success. Bedford emphasized Jean-Mary’s coaching style, likening it to his own approach at Michigan. He highlighted Jean-Mary’s ability to be demanding yet supportive, fostering strong relationships with his players both on and off the field.
Additionally, Jean-Mary’s prowess in recruiting is well-regarded, evident in his successful efforts in securing commitments from highly sought-after prospects like Ja’Den McBurrows, Jaydon Hood, and notably Junior Colson. Bedford commended Jean-Mary’s recruiting skills, placing him alongside esteemed recruiters such as Greg Mattison and Clint Hurtt.
Overall, Jean-Mary’s coaching pedigree, coupled with his recruiting acumen, has positioned him as a valuable asset to any program he’s been a part of.
Jean-Mary began his coaching journey as the secondary coach at North Alabama in 2003. However, it was his role as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech that marked a significant breakthrough in his career. According to his bio, “Jean-Mary spent six seasons coaching linebackers at Georgia Tech from 2004-09, guiding the defense to top 30 seasons in rushing defense, scoring defense, and total defense in five of his six years on staff.”
Former Michigan assistant Vance Bedford praised Jean-Mary as a remarkable hire by Jim Harbaugh back in the winter of 2020, citing his track record of success. Bedford emphasized Jean-Mary’s coaching style, likening it to his own approach at Michigan.
He highlighted Jean-Mary’s ability to be demanding yet supportive, fostering strong relationships with his players both on and off the field. Additionally, Jean-Mary’s prowess in recruiting is well-regarded, evident in his successful efforts in securing commitments from highly sought-after prospects like Ja’Den McBurrows, Jaydon Hood, and notably Junior Colson. Bedford commended Jean-Mary’s recruiting skills, placing him alongside esteemed recruiters such as Greg Mattison and Clint Hurtt.
Overall, Jean-Mary’s coaching pedigree, coupled with his recruiting acumen, has positioned him as a valuable asset to any program he’s been a part of.
With coaching experience at various institutions including Louisville, Texas, USF, Michigan, and Tennessee, Jean-Mary brings a wealth of defensive knowledge to Michigan football.
In mid-February, Sam Webb of TMI penned the following regarding Jean-Mary:
Three years back, Jean-Mary was among the coaches whom Jim Harbaugh aimed to retain when reorganizing his staff after the 2020 season. However, a series of events prompted Harbaugh to reshuffle the coaching lineup, resulting in the hiring of Matt Weiss as the new quarterbacks coach, and Jean-Mary’s departure to Knoxville. Despite his brief tenure in Ann Arbor, Jean-Mary garnered significant respect from his peers, including Moore.
Throughout his 24-year coaching career, Jean-Mary has established a reputation as both a developer and a motivator. At Tennessee, he played a pivotal role in the team’s defensive improvement. According to his bio, “Jean-Mary’s inaugural season at Rocky Top in 2021 saw the Volunteers adopt an aggressive defensive style, even in the face of linebacker depth issues and multiple injuries. Tennessee concluded the season tied for eighth nationally and second in the SEC in tackles for loss with 108, nearly doubling its previous year’s total before his arrival.”
Before his tenure at Tennessee and Michigan, Jean-Mary served on three different staffs led by Charlie Strong. His initial stint was at Louisville (2010-2013) as assistant head coach and linebackers coach, followed by Texas (2014-2016) as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator, and then USF (2017-2019) as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Jean-Mary began his coaching journey as the secondary coach at North Alabama in 2003. However, it was his role as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech that marked a significant breakthrough in his career. According to his bio, “Jean-Mary spent six seasons coaching linebackers at Georgia Tech from 2004-09, guiding the defense to top 30 seasons in rushing defense, scoring defense, and total defense in five of his six years on staff.”
Former Michigan assistant Vance Bedford praised Jean-Mary as a remarkable hire by Jim Harbaugh back in the winter of 2020, citing his track record of success. Bedford emphasized Jean-Mary’s coaching style, likening it to his own approach at Michigan.
He highlighted Jean-Mary’s ability to be demanding yet supportive, fostering strong relationships with his players both on and off the field. Additionally, Jean-Mary’s prowess in recruiting is well-regarded, evident in his successful efforts in securing commitments from highly sought-after prospects like Ja’Den McBurrows, Jaydon Hood, and notably Junior Colson. Bedford commended Jean-Mary’s recruiting skills, placing him alongside esteemed recruiters such as Greg Mattison and Clint Hurtt.
Overall, Jean-Mary’s coaching pedigree, coupled with his recruiting acumen, has positioned him as a valuable asset to any program he’s been a part of.
