Mike Sainristil: Jesse Minter is 'definitely going to be a head coach someday'

Jesse Minter has gained the reputation of being one of the fastest-rising assistant head coaches in college football.

At 40, many see the best years of his coaching career ahead of him. That group includes one of his best defenders — Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil.

“If you guys knew coach Minter and understood the amount of sleep he loses to make sure that this defense is great,” Sainristil said during Saturday’s CFP Championship game media day. “You wouldn’t believe it. The things he does to make sure that we’re going to go out there and be successful on Saturdays and you know, postseason on Monday’s now.

“He has his thing to a tee with our preparation. I think coach Minter is the best [defensive coordinator] in the country. Definitely going to be a head coach someday, if he chooses to be — a very good head coach. The amount of preparation, the way he allows us to go out there be ourselves, number one, and trust in the fact that we’re going to execute some of the difficult game plans he has for us, that’s what makes him such a great coach.”

Michigan comes into the national title game ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense. The Wolverines have allowed 16 total touchdowns all season long, which averages to 10.2 points per game — also the best in the country. That breaks down even further to 0.89 points allowed per drive — which is also tops in the nation. The Wolverines’ 4.29 yards per play is also ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Two very striking statistics, however, sees the Wolverines’ defense is allowing an NCAA-low 243.1 yards per game (No. 1), while also allowing 150 yards per game (No. 2) on average through the air. It’s safe to say Washington and Michael Penix Jr. will have a long afternoon attempting to pick apart Minter’s tightly-knit defense.

Luckily for Michigan fans, Minter’s head coaching career might not take off right away. He’s only in his third season as a defensive coordinator at a Power Five level having spent one season at Vanderbilt before joining Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff in 2022. Before that, he was on Harbaugh’s brother, John’s staff on the Baltimore Ravens in various positions for four seasons.

That might be wishful thinking, however. Minter has been regarded as one of the best defensive minds in football over the last decade and chance. During Minter’s first season as Georgia State DC in 2013, he was nominated for a Broyles Award — which is awarded to the best assistant coach in college football each season — after leading the Panthers’ defense to be ranked No. 8 in FBS by the end of the year.

His quick ascension to becoming one of college football’s top assistant coaches isn’t a fluke, according to Sainristil. He’ll be singing his DC’s praises well past the national championship game on Monday and his time in Ann Arbor.