Michigan needs a defensive coordinator and new HC Sherrone Moore has a connection to a Vols assistant coach

New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore actually has several openings on his defensive staff that he needs to fill, including linebackers coach. 

And a current Tennessee Vols assistant coach could be a name to watch. 

Vols linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary was previously the linebackers coach at Michigan in 2020, where he worked alongside Moore, who was the Wolverines' tight ends coach at the time. 

Moore, who played college football at Oklahoma when Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was an assistant coach for the Sooners, also previously worked with Jean-Mary at Louisville. 

Jean-Mary, who has defensive coordinator experience from his time at USF (2017-2019), was the assistant head coach/linebackers coach at Louisville from 2010 to 2013. Moore was a graduate assistant at Louisville from 2009 to 2011 and he was the Cardinals' tight ends coach from 2012 to 2013. 

Now, that doesn't mean that Tennessee is in imminent danger of losing Jean-Mary to Michigan. Remember, he left Michigan after the 2020 season to join Tennessee's staff in the same role. I can't see him going back to Michigan just to be a linebackers coach. 

However, if Moore and the Wolverines offer Jean-Mary a defensive coordinator role or a co-defensive coordinator role, it could be tough for the Vols linebackers coach to turn it down.