It was announced that Steve Clinkscale won the Big Ten Corners Coach of the Year presented by Our Coaching Network. It’s a community of coaches from all different levels all around the world.
Clinkscale came to Michigan back in 2021 as the defensive backs coach and the defensive passing game coordinator. He was elevated to Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2022 and still holds that position as of this writing.
He has helped develop Michigan into having one of the top secondaries in all of football. Players like Will Johnson, Rod Moore, and Mike Sainristil have all excelled under his coaching and guidance.
The Wolverines were second in the Big Ten in 2023 allowing teams to throw for just 157 yards per game. Michigan intercepted the ball 18 times on the season — the most in the conference. Mike Sainristil accounted for six interceptions and Will Johnson had four of them himself.
The Michigan defense has been better against the pass every year since Clinkscale arrived in Ann Arbor. In 2021, Michigan allowed 204.4 yards through the air, 194.2 in 2022, and 157 in 2023.
Clinkscale will get guys like Will Johnson, Rod Moore, Makari Paige, and Keon Sabb back for the 2024 campaign — along with some talented, younger players to coach up.
