Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore officially has his defensive staff in place, after the entirety of the Wolverines’ assistant coaches on that side of the ball departed the program following head coach Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
The new additions are headlined by coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale and also include defensive line coach Greg Scruggs, linebackers coach / run game coordinator Brian Jean-Mary and defensive backs coach / pass game coordinator LaMar Morgan. Michigan has also brought on Brad Hawkins as a graduate assistant, after he spent two seasons on NFL practice squads following five years as a DB at U-M.
Martindale, who replaces Jesse Minter, “was the architect of the defensive scheme that Michigan has run for the past three seasons and will continue to utilize as the framework for its 2024 unit,” according to Michigan’s press release.
“I am excited about the quality of the coaches that we have assembled on the defensive side of the football,” Moore said. “Men of great character who love the game of football and are tremendous teachers. They will put our defensive players in great position to succeed on and off the field. I am excited to work with this outstanding group of assistant coaches as we pursue championships for the University of Michigan.”
Moore commented on each hire. His quotes are below.
Sherrone Moore on Michigan defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale
Martindale joins the Michigan staff after two years coordinating the New York Giants’ defense. He spent four seasons leading the Baltimore Ravens’ defense (2017-21) and has seven total years of NFL defensive coordinator experience.
“I am excited to have Coach Martindale join our staff as defensive coordinator,” Moore said. “He has coached hall of fame players, coordinated some of the best defenses in football and his expertise and knowledge will help our players excel on the field. We are so excited to have the mentor to so many great defensive players and coaches join our staff at Michigan.”
Sherrone Moore on Michigan DL coach Greg Scruggs
Scruggs joins the Wolverines from Wisconsin, where he coached the defensive line. He was the assistant defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 2022. Prior to that, he coached the same position at Cincinnati from 2020-21, after being the program’s Director of Player Development (2018-19).
“I have known Greg since our time together at Louisville and have always appreciated his drive and passion for the game,” Moore said. “We have stayed in contact through the years, and I always knew that Greg would be a great leader and teacher for a program that I was fortunate enough to assemble. Greg is a great football coach and an even better person. He will be an outstanding mentor for our players, especially the guys on the defensive line, and will help them achieve their football goals.”
Sherrone Moore on Michigan LBs coach / run game coordinator Brian Jean-Mary
Jean-Mary worked as Tennessee’s linebackers coach each of the last two seasons, following his first stint at U-M — a one-year run. Jean-Mary was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at USF from 2017-19.
“Brian has been a part of my coaching network for many years,” Moore said. “He is a great coach and communicator that I have been fortunate enough to work with and learn from at two different schools (Louisville and Michigan). Brian is an outstanding recruiter and developer of players, and I am really excited to have him lead our linebacking corps. He is familiar with our program and university and will jump right back in and make a major contribution to our team and program.”
Sherrone Moore on Michigan DBs coach / pass game coordinator LaMar Morgan
Morgan left his alma mater, Louisiana, to come to Michigan. He was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach there for two seasons (2022-23), in his second stint with the program after serving as cornerbacks coach from 2019-20. Morgan coached cornerbacks for Minter’s defense at Vanderbilt in 2021.
“LaMar is someone that I have enjoyed getting to know through this process,” Moore said. “He came highly recommended by Jesse Minter and I saw why he is respected as an top notch defensive backs coach during our conversations. He is an excellent teacher and communicator, and his passion for football and for helping young men achieve their goals showed through in his interview. I am excited to have LaMar mentoring our defensive secondary and coordinating the passing game.”
