Michigan officially announces new defensive coordinator

It’s official. Michigan has its replacement for Mike Macdonald.

Former Vanderbilt defensive coordinator and safeties coach Jesse Minter is officially the Wolverines’ new defensive coordinator, the program announced Wednesday. The announcement came one day after On3’s Matt Zenitz reported Minter’s hiring.

“Jesse comes from a football family and loves coaching and the relationships you form with your players and staff,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He will provide excellent leadership for our defense and will fit seamlessly with the coaching staff we have put together. Jesse is a teacher first, has a love and passion for the game and cares deeply for the players he coaches and works with daily.

“He came highly recommended last year by my brother John, and Jesse and I have continued to have discussions and maintain a friendship which helped bring him to Ann Arbor. We are excited to welcome Jesse and his wife, Rachelle, as well as their daughter, Millie, and sons, Monte and Mac, to our Michigan Football family.”

Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, Minter worked for the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive assistant from 2017-20. Ironically, he’s replacing Mike Macdonald, who’s taking over for Don “Wink” Martindale as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.

More on Jesse Minter, Michigan coaching staff changes

Minter got his coaching start in 2006 as a defensive intern at Notre Dame before becoming a defensive graduate assistant at Cincinnati from 2007-08. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia State and Indiana State before heading to the NFL.

“It is an honor to be joining Coach Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan,” Minter said in a statement. “I am excited to work alongside our coaches in helping the players reach their maximum potential on and off the field. I look forward to building great relationships with the players and staff and can’t wait to get to work representing the program. My family and I are excited to join the Ann Arbor and university community. Go Blue!”

Michigan had one of the best defenses in the Big Ten last season, holding teams to 330.9 points per game. The Wolverines are coming off a 12-1 season before falling to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

Minter’s hiring was among multiple other coaching changes Michigan announced Wednesday. The Wolverines also announced a new plan for co-offensive coordinators and a new tight ends coach. That news came after offensive coordinator Josh Gattis left the program for Miami.