Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh hired D.C. Jesse Minter for one big reason

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh conducted a national search for a defensive coordinator to replace Mike Macdonald, as expected. But — as predicted — he landed on Jesse Minter for one big reason: 

Continuity. 

RELATED

COLUMN – Nothing wrong with chasing a dream, be it Michigan or the NFL

Jim Harbaugh talks three incoming ‘freak shows,’ one with 43-inch vertical

Harbaugh reached out to his brother, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, last year and again this year for his advice. John Harbaugh took Macdonald back after a year in Ann Arbor, but he had another guy in mind dating back to last season. 

“This goes back to when I was hiring Mike Macdonald, filling that D.C. spot a year ago,” he said on Jon Jansen’s In the Trenches Podcast. “My brother John said, ‘Mike Macdonald, linebackers coach, or Jesse Minter. They’re both great. If I was you, I’d pick one. 

“I looked at both, looked at Mike, and that’s the direction I ended up going. Jesse went from the Ravens to Vanderbilt. So … it worked the time before. I figured it would work this time.”

He interviewed several outstanding candidates, including Wisconsin linebackers coach Bobby Aprill III and a man familiar to Michigan fans. 

“I talked to a lot of great guys along the way,” Harbaugh continued. “Larry Foote. I made a run at Larry, some other guys.”

Foote has made a name for himself as Tampa Bay’s linebackers coach, and he was a popular choice among some fans. Aprill helped coach a defense that’s outstanding year-in and year-out.

In the end, though, Harbaugh landed the right guy. Minter is a former Broyles Award finalist for his work at Georgia State, and he’s also known as a great recruiter. More importantly, he knows the Macdonald defense, having worked with Macdonald at Baltimore. He implemented it during his one season at Vanderbilt, and he’ll build on it at Michigan.

“I’m really happy we have Jesse. What it does do is there’s a real continuity that’s taking place,” Harbaugh said. “It’s the same system. Both came out of Baltimore little over a year ago, knowing the same system, running the same system. 

“It’s very similar, pretty much the same system. There are some new nuances, but it’s the same terminology, verbiage, and it’s been a seamless fit so far.”

Harbaugh also found a perfect fit in Mike Elston, a Notre Dame assistant for the last decade-plus. With line coach Shaun Nua leaving for USC, Harbaugh did his homework to replace him, too. He reached out to Jansen, a former Elston teammate, before calling a man he knew would have the scoop. 

“The first person I did reach out to was Coach [Lloyd] Carr,” Harbaugh said. “He raved about Mike, and Mike’s here in our footprint. He grew up in Ohio, played at Michigan, coached at Michigan … also coached at Eastern, Central, Cincinnati and has been at Notre Dame for 10 years. 

“He’s an excellent coach. Look at the people and players he’s developed and the players at a high level. Not only in college, but also trained to go on to the NFL. Because there were, again, others that were interviewed. Mike ended up being the perfect fit, and I’m really proud to make that hire and welcome his family back to Ann Arbor.”

Jay Harbaugh, too, has proven himself as a coach at a number of positions. Harbaugh has no doubt his son will excel with the safeties, too. 

“We had the No.1 special teams unit in the country. He was special teams coach of the year, all that kind of stuff,” Harbaugh said. “There’s a lot of talent there. He’s very bright, very talented, and I know he’s going to do a heck of a job on the defensive side and should be really well rounded as a football coach.”

Just like another Harbaugh the Michigan coach knows. 

“It reminds me of the resume of my brother John Harbaugh, who coached linebackers, tight ends, running backs, special teams and the secondary,” he said. “He’s building that same type of resume.”

All told, it sets up with a nice defensive staff in 2022 and the potential to build on what Macdonald started at Michigan.