Minter Leaves Michigan for Chargers
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Chargers have hired Minter as their new defensive coordinator. This comes as a blow to Michigan, as Minter held the same role with the Wolverines for the past two seasons under Harbaugh. Confirming his departure, Minter expressed his gratitude to everyone at Michigan, especially the players, for their journey together.
A Formidable Defense
Minter’s defense at Michigan played a crucial role in the team’s success, helping them win a national title. In fact, the Wolverines defense was the top-ranked group in the country in 2023. Minter’s expertise in coaching defense has been recognized before, as he was nominated for the prestigious Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football, in 2015. He was also a finalist for the award in 2022.
Ties to the Harbaugh Family
Minter’s connection to the Harbaugh family runs deep. Prior to his time at Michigan, he worked as a Baltimore Ravens assistant under John Harbaugh from 2017-2020. In his final season with the Ravens, Minter was promoted to defensive backs coach before taking on the role of defensive coordinator. He has also held coaching positions at Georgia State, Indiana State, the University of Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, where he began his college coaching career as a defensive intern in 2006.
Michigan Loses Another Coach
Minter is not the only coach from Michigan joining Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. According to ESPN, Wolverines defensive line coach Mike Elston will also be joining the Chargers in the same role next season. It is expected that other assistants, including strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, will follow suit. As a result, new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who is also Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator, will have many roles to fill before his first season leading the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Reshaping the Defense
Minter’s focus will now be on reshaping a defense that struggled despite its star power last season in a tough division. The Chargers will be relying on his expertise to improve their defensive performance and propel the team to success.
