The Michigan Wolverines lost defensive coordinator Jesse Minter in the offseason. He followed Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers, where both of them had their work cut out for them. However, new head coach Sherrone Moore made a big splash by hiring former NFL DC Wink Martindale. He was with the New York Giants last year but spent many years with the Baltimore Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl. It seems Moore was able to lure him to Michigan with a large salary.
Michigan Wolverines Make Wink Martindale Highest Paid Coordinator
Reports indicate that the three-year deal has a base salary of $2.3 million this year. That number increases to $2.5 million and $2.7 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively. For a coordinator, this is a hefty price. However, the Wolverines hope the price is worth it. Martindale is known for putting a lot of pressure on quarterbacks. This will be essential in a conference with many elite players under center.
Rave Reviews
Moore talked in a recent press conference about how much he loves having Martindale around.
“Wink’s awesome, man. I love Wink. He’s such a great, vibrant person, a great human being, obviously an extremely intelligent coach. The boys love him. He brings such a great vibe to the team, and experience, obviously.”
He seems to be connecting with the team well. Any time there is a coaching change, it can be difficult to get the current players on board. The transition seems to have been seamless. It isn’t surprising that players get to learn under a Super Bowl-winning coordinator.
The Michigan Wolverines hope Wink Martindale can bring the same type of dominant defense they had last year. If he can, this team could be scary again in 2024.
More must-reads: