The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
80 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS N ew Michigan defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale is the archi- tect of the defense the Baltimore Ravens used with great success, and variations are still being used today by several of his protegés. Two of them — Mike Macdonald (now head coach with the Seattle Sea- hawks) in 2021 and Jesse Minter (D.C. with the Los Angeles Rams) in 2022-23 — em- ployed it to help lead the Wolverines to three straight Big Ten titles and last year's CFP national championship. After 21 years in the NFL, Martindale returns to the college game, where he'll be tasked with continuing U-M's run of outstanding defenses. He sat down with The Wolverine to talk about working for head coach Sherrone Moore, his defen- sive staff, and more. The Wolverine: What was Sherrone Moore's pitch to you, and how was he fortunate enough to land you when it looked like you still had NFL options? Martindale: "It wasn't a pitch by Sherrone. … It was Sherrone, the person. [ESPN reporter] Adam Schefter was the one that really connected me with the job. I don't know if he called Sherrone, but he probably did, knowing Adam. "He called me when I was down in Florida. He said, 'Would you be inter- ested in talking to Sherrone Moore at Michigan?' I said, 'Of course I would — it's football!' "We had two conversations on the phone, probably a half hour to an hour each. It just fit. I listened to his philoso- phy and got to know him as a person. … " I to l d my w i fe b e fo re I c a m e up here to interview in person, if they offer me, I'm going to take it. I felt so good after talking to him. Little did I know, by the time I came up here it was already a done deal. I met with the players. … It was a great process. I'm happy I'm doing it at the level I am. It's going to be exciting. "We've got a tough schedule, like the NFL. It's got to be the toughest schedule Michigan has had in two decades." T he Wolverine: How does Coach Moore compare to the other head coaches you've worked for over the years as a leader? Martindale: "One of his best traits is that he uplifts people. With any good leader, if there's something being done and he doesn't think it's being done the right way, he'll say something. But he's always looking to uplift people. That starts with players, coaches, whoever it is, recruiting, whatever. You don't want to let him down. Coordinator 'Wink' Martindale Brings 21 Years Of NFL Experience To The Job DEFENSE Q&A Martindale will keep the same defensive system Michigan has used the last three years, which he developed while coaching in the NFL. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN