Michigan football: Positive early returns on strength coach Justin Tress, defensive coordinator Don Martindale

Michigan Wolverines football is entering a new era. However, there are a lot of familiar faces, like head coach Sherrone Moore, an assistant for six seasons, and head strength coach Justin Tress, who was on the staff under Ben Herbert before being promoted. There’s also new blood, with the most notable addition being longtime NFL coach Don ‘Wink’ Martindale as defensive coordinator, replacing Jesse Minter, who went with head coach Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers. The early returns on some of the most important moves have been positive.

Tress, 28 years old, worked with Herbert since 2017, including at Michigan since 2018. A former Kent State defensive back, Tress was Michigan’s associate director of strength and conditioning last season, helping the Wolverines win their 12th-ever national championship.

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EDGE Braiden McGregor, one of Michigan’s 18 prospects invited to the 2024 NFL Combine, discussed Tress in Indianapolis.

“First off, I’m so happy for Coach Tress,” McGregor said. “When I got there, he was kind of the younger guy. I think he was like the third in line, so it’s kind of cool just to see, I went through four years, Coach Herb went to the Chargers, Coach ‘Ro [Kiero Small] went to Purdue and then Coach Tress gets the job.

“It’s just so exciting to see what he does, because he was the type of guy who was like Coach Herb and then he would have an off switch, be able to actually hang out with you, kind of understand that. I’m just excited to see what he does.”

“J. Tress, he’s been there as long as Coach Herb has; he’s been learning under Coach Herb,” linebacker Michael Barrett, who spent six years at Michigan and is also an NFL Combine invitee, said. “Coach J. Tress, he was a young guy coming in, but over the years I’ve been there the same time … I think we all got there at the same time, so being able to watch him grow, being able to see the way he’s grown over the years, he’s definitely ready to go take over that.

“Toward the end, he was starting to take over more, getting more of those leadership roles, taking over when Coach Herb wasn’t there. So, you can definitely see where that transition came from. I’m glad and happy to see how J. Tress takes that over.”

One thing McGregor has already heard about — ‘turn-up Saturdays.’

“I know he’s got these turn-up Saturdays going on right now where the boys are getting lit in the weight room — shirts off, water bottles squirting,” McGregor said. “I’m excited to go back and go in there and see the new staff and see what he’s doing.”

Michigan players were disappointed when Herbert departed for the Chargers. The Wolverines had a 30-day transfer portal window after Harbaugh leaving, but only two players decided to go. Since then, they’ve been working with Tress and his staff in preparation for spring practices, which begin March 18.

“When Coach Herb, a lot of guys were pretty sad, pretty upset,” McGregor noted. “But I think Coach Tress, bringing him to that spot is just a familiar face, a guy that you trust, a guy that’s been around that knows what Coach Herb did. Not that he’s going to mimic him or try to be like him, but bring his own twist to it. I’m just excited to see what he’ll do with it. I guess Coach Tress is a great dude, so I’m excited for him; I’m excited to see what he does.”

Asked for one trait that stands out about Michigan’s new head strength coach, McGregor said: “I would say, he doesn’t care who you are, he’s going to push you as hard as you can go. I know he didn’t care — this year I was a starter or whatever — he would treat me like, in the offseason, I was a freshman. He would make sure every little detail is right. That’s been a big thing with Coach Herb is details, so being able to have another guy that can focus on details and be the type of guy that he is, it’s going to be exciting to see what he does.”

Braiden McGregor hearing good things about Don Martindale

Martindale was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator when Michigan’s last two coordinators — Mike Macdonald and Minter — were position coaches. He’ll run a similar system to the one Macdonald and Minter did, which worked over the last three seasons. The Wolverines finished last year first in the country in scoring defense under Minter.

“I’ve talked to a couple guys that are still there that were younger,” McGregor revealed. “They spoke really highly of him, as well. They’re just excited.

“I think all these guys that came back or have an opportunity now with 18 of us — 19, 20 of us — leaving right now, they’re just excited. So I think keeping that same scheme is a big deal, because when I was there, I had three different DCs. It was a little difficult. You feel like you start getting in a groove, and then a new one comes in. You try to keep it somewhat the same.

“From my sophomore to junior year, when we went from Coach Macdonald to Coach Minter, I think that was the best year because you get into the offseason and you know what to expect, know your playbook. I think that’s just something big.”

McGregor also loved that Michigan promoted Moore from offensive coordinator and line coach to head man.

“I think they did a great job of hiring Coach Moore,” he said. “I think that was the No. 1 thing was to make sure we get the right guy. That whole locker room, everybody loves Coach Moore. Now that they got him, it’s just up from here. They have all the tools on the defense. The offense is reloading. A lot of young guys that have been itching to get their chance, so I think this year we’re still on the up and coming. Even at the top of college football, I think they still have a good opportunity this year, too.”