Newsstand: Michigan makes Wink Martindale the highest-paid assistant coach in college football
Tweets Of The Day
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore has made some impressive hires — none more so than reeling in longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to lead the Wolverines’ defense. He was able to do so, in part, with the freedom to offer a lucrative contract. Martindale’s contract details were made public Thursday, revealing that he’s now the highest paid assistant coach in college football. He’s set to make $2.3 million this year, $2.5 million the following and $2.7 million in 2026. According to Football Scoop, the highest paid coordinator in college football in 2023 was Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley at $2.05 million.
Martindale didn’t just return to the college game at Michigan after two decades in the NFL for the money. He also believes it’s similar to the pros, and he called being the defensive coordinator in Ann Arbor a “dream job.”
“It’s getting very comparable to the National Football League, it’s what it’s getting comparable to,” Martindale said last week. “I think through mutual friends Sherrone and I got in contact with each other. That part worked right away, immediately just talking with Sherrone. I heard a lot of great things about him and everything that people have told me, I’ve seen. It’s an opportunity for myself and my wife, I want to do this. She’s like, ‘Are you sure?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I want to do this.’ To coach at this great university and play the games that we play, this schedule is not much different from the schedules I’ve been playing the last 20 years, I know that. It’s going to be a tough challenge for us.”
Michigan players reveal their favorite helmet stickers, each of which tells a story. They include the players’ area code of their hometown, one for each win and more.
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Quote Of The Day
“It sucks to lose Coach (Jim) Harbaugh, but we’ve seen Coach (Sherrone) Moore and Coach (Kirk) Campbell win games. I’m excited to see what this year holds. Are they going to stay more run dominant? Are they going more 55/45? I’m excited to see what the offense looks like. I 100 percent think Coach Moore can have success. We’ve seen him big games like Penn State and Ohio State. I think he’s going to continue to win.”
— 2027 Mundelein (Ill.) Carmel Catholic quarterback Trae Taylor on Michigan
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• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Five Michigan football position battles to watch this spring
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• Zach Libby, The Wolverine: Rising 2025 WR target Jamauri Brice previews upcoming visit to Michigan
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Newsstand: Michigan WR Semaj Morgan hosting star-studded camp May 18
