Skip to main content
michigan logo

Michigan football hires defensive analyst Kevin Wilkins, graduate assistant Brad Hawkins

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•03/04/24•

CSayf23

Brad Hawkins
(Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan Wolverines football is set to officially hire Don Martindale as its defensive coordinator, and one of his longtime confidants has already joined the program in an official capacity. Head coach Sherrone Moore has hired Kevin Wilkins as a defensive analyst, according to the U-M athletic department’s staff directory.

Wilkins has worked with Martindale since 2015, when the former was a video intern with the Ravens. Martindale was then the linebackers coach for the NFL franchise from 2012-17, before being promoted to defensive coordinator (2018-21).

During that time, Wilkins worked his way up in the organization, serving as video operations coordinator from 2017-20, before being promoted to defensive assistant coach in 2021.

“Wilkins began doing special projects for the Ravens’ defensive coaching staff in 2019 and was made a defensive assistant for the 2021 season,” the Giants’ official website wrote.

Martindale was let go from the Ravens after that season, then hired to coordinate the New York Giants defense, and Wilkins — along with his brother, Drew Wilkins — followed Martindale to the New York Giants. Kevin Wilkins spent the past two seasons there as a defensive assistant coach.

According to The Athletic‘s Dan Duggan, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll fired both Kevin and Drew Wilkins without informing Martindale. The Giants announced days later that Martindale and the club “mutually agreed to part ways.”

Drew Wilkins is now the outside linebackers coach for the New England Patriots, while Kevin is now at Michigan.

The Wolverines lost most of their defensive staff, including analyst Doug Mallory, when head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to become the head man of the Los Angeles Chargers. Moore has been tasked with hiring replacements, and Wilkins is one who will have an impact.

A Doylestown, Pa., native, Wilkins was a business major at South Carolina.

Brad Hawkins returns to Michigan as graduate assistant

Another hire that will boost Michigan’s defense is the addition of former Wolverine safety Brad Hawkins as a graduate assistant. The third-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2021 appeared in 56 games (then a program record) with 31 starts.

Throughout his career, Hawkins totaled 178 tackles, including 7 tackles for loss, 8 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

Hawkins played with two Michigan safeties — graduate Makari Paige and senior Rod Moore — and already has a rapport with some players on the roster.

Hawkins spent the last two seasons on NFL practice squads with the Atlanta Falcons (2022) and New England Patriots (2022-23).

You may also like