New Michigan Football Defensive Coordinator In Ann Arbor?

Yesterday morning, Sherrone Moore was introduced as the 21st head coach in the history of Michigan Wolverines football. Heading into the offseason, the team is without a defensive coordinator and an offensive coordinator; however, the next Michigan football defensive coordinator could already be in Ann Arbor with either Mike Elston or Steve Clinkscale.

Could Sherrone Moore make the next Michigan football defensive coordinator an internal hire?

Over the past three seasons, Michigan football has seen an elite stretch of defensive coordinators — Mike MacDonald and Jesse Minter commanded some of the top units nationally, leading the Maize and Blue to three straight Big Ten titles and a National Championship.

While Jesse Minter is following his head coach, Jim Harbaugh, to Los Angeles and the NFL, it’s a tough blow for the Michigan football program heading into year one of the Sherrone Moore era. Still, there are a few incredible defensive minds already on staff who could very well get the call without Moore having to look outside of the program for a new hire.

Mike Elston

The first Michigan football defensive coordinator candidate that is already on staff is defensive line coach Mike Elston, a veteran football mind and one of the most respected coaches in the game right now. Elston has seen action with programs like Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, and Eastern Michigan; eventually returning to the University of Michigan — his alma mater — in 2022.

Elston has been waiting for his shot to become a defensive coordinator for the Maize and Blue for a few years, and with Minter leaving, the time could be now.

Steve Clinkscale

Another name that has floated around as a potential DC replacement for Michigan football is defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, who has been a defensive coach and coordinator in the Big Ten, SEC, and more over the past 15 years or so.

Clinkscale is one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football right now, and after his secondary out-performed expectations (by a lot) in 2023, his time to command the entire defensive could be coming. Like Elston, Clinkscale’s name is being thrown around a lot, and some think that Sherrone Moore may opt to give him full-time or part-time control over the Wolverines’ defense.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!