Breaking down Michigan coaches that could follow Jim Harbaugh to Chargers

Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is off to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. Some of his former Wolverines staff members could soon be joining him in LA.

Chris Balas of The Wolverine joined On3’s Andy Staples recently to discuss Harbaugh leaving for the NFL and which staff members could join him.

Balas believes that two in particular are a threat to leave.

“When he was [potentially] going to the Minnesota Vikings, it was going to be Grant Newsome, it was going to be Matt Weiss, who is obviously no longer with the program,” Balas said. “Right now, from what we’ve heard, it might just be Jesse Minter, who we’d heard before the season wanted to be an NFL defensive coordinator anyway – this would probably be his last season at Michigan. And then Jay Harbaugh, obviously Jim’s son. Those are the two we’ll keep an eye on right now.”

Jesse Minter was one of the top defensive coordinators in the country this past season.

The Wolverines led the nation in total defense at 247 yards per game and scoring defense at 10.4 points per game. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Jesse Minter ends up with Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.

As for Jay Harbaugh, he has been on staff at Michigan since Jim Harbaugh took over in 2015. Jay has held a variety of roles, including coaching special teams, tight ends, running backs and safeties. It would make since for Jay to join his father in Los Angeles.

As for the other two names Balas mentioned in Matt Weiss and Grant Newsome, Weiss was fired following the 2022 season after being under investigation by University of Michigan Police for alleged computer access crimes. Newsome is still on staff as the tight ends coach at Michigan, but it appears as though he could be open to staying.

Balas also mentioned another staff member the Wolverines can’t afford to lose in Director of Strength and Conditioning — Ben Herbert. Herbert has been on staff at Michigan since January of 2018. He is known as one of the best Strength and Conditioning coaches in the country.

“Ben Herbert’s the big one they want to keep – the strength coach. And it sounds like he wants to stick around,” Balas said. “But if [Sherrone Moore] can keep Ben Herbert and those guys together, he’ll have a much better chance to succeed.”

Michigan has not hired a replacement for Jim Harbaugh yet and isn’t expected to until next week. However, when the Wolverines do, it is widely expected to be offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore. If that is indeed the hire, it should help with roster retention and staff retention.