Minter has been Michigan’s defensive coordinator for the last two seasons, during which he helped the team rank among the nation’s top-10 units in terms of points allowed, total defense, and run defense. Leading the FBS in both scoring defense (10.4) and total defense (247.0) in 2023, the Wolverines won a College Football Playoff National Championship. In the championship game earlier this month, Michigan players executed a near-perfect game plan designed by Minter, shutting down a formidable offensive force in Washington. Minter was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is given to the top college football assistant coach each year.
He served as the interim head coach of the Wolverines for the season-opener against East Carolina in place of Harbaugh, who was suspended at the time. Michigan won 30-3.
During the current coaching cycle, Minter was mentioned as a potential contender for NFL openings and potentially as a replacement head coach at Michigan. However, Minter will follow Harbaugh to the West Coast.
After the Wolverines finished seventh in the country in total defense and allowed only 292.1 yards per game in Minter’s debut season at Ann Arbor, the player previously inked a contract extension with Michigan in April. He concluded his second season as one of college football’s most highly regarded assistant coaches.
Minter spent one season in 2021 as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Vanderbilt before coming on staff at Michigan in 2022. He worked as a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens for four years, serving as Jim Harbaugh’s elder brother’s coach.
Minter began his coaching career as a defensive intern at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis in 2006 before joining the Cincinnati Bearcats as a graduate assistant in 2007. Minter got his first job as a position coach at Indiana State where he was in charge of the linebackers from 2009-2010. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2011. Minter eventually left to become the defensive coordinator at Georgia State fro 2013-15.
Minter played wide receiver at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio from 2002-05.
VIP: It’s officially Sherrone Moore. Now what? What changes? What doesn’t?
With Minter’s departure, Sherman Moore, the next head coach of Michigan, will need to fill the position of defensive coordinator on his staff for the 2024 campaign. On Saturday, August 31, 2024, Michigan will play Fresno State in Ann Arbor as the defending national champions.
