One of the more intriguing storylines surrounding the Michigan Football program heading into 2024 is on the defensive side of the ball, as Wink Martindale replaces Jesse Minter as defensive coordinator. Martindale spent a decade with the Baltimore Ravens, serving as the linebackers coach from 2012-17, and defensive coordinator from 2018-21. He then became the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2022-23, and he now brings that experience to Ann Arbor as part of Sherrone Moore’s staff.

Speaking with Jon Jansen on the ‘In The Trenches‘ podcast, Martindale discussed his excitement about the opportunity to coach at Michigan, along with how his defensive philosophy aligns perfectly with what Michigan already does.

On coaching at Michigan:

“The excitement of coming back to my roots and just to have the opportunity. I mean, this is a dream job to come to the University of Michigan and be the defensive coordinator and have this opportunity. And it’s one of those things, I think our lives are full of bucket list things, and when you look back at it at the end, it’s going to be a bucket list thing that I did — that we did, my wife and I.

“I’m just really excited about it, and I’m excited about getting back to the pageantry of college football, because that’s different compared to the pro level.”

On the Michigan players:

“The thing that you see — and this is through the draft process, when you’re evaluating college guys coming out — is the lack of technique that a lot of them play with,” Martindale said. “And these guys are square football players who play with knock-back, and they can make plays. It warms my heart to see that.”

“The thing I love about being a coach is being around the players, and that’s what’s been great for me since I’ve been here, because there are guys here all the time, watching tape, asking questions. We’ve had players … Rod [Moore] has been in there, Makari [Paige] has been in there, Mason’s been just in our staff meetings. If they want to come in our staff meetings, come on in and let’s talk football.”

“That part is all relative, whether it’s high school, college or pros, as far as the teaching and educator part of it. But there is a different excitement of guys wanting to learn, and it’s been a lot of fun.”

On what it’s like being at Michigan:

“It’s been great. We’ve been excited since day one, when Sherrone and I decided that this is going to work. The people have been great up here. I’ve been to a hockey game, been to a basketball game. Can’t wait for baseball and softball to start. I enjoy that, as well, and just getting back to the campus life. It’s been really reenergizing for me. It’s brought me back to my roots of just starting as a high school teacher and a coach. And we’re really excited about it.”

On his defensive scheme:

“It’s like I told the players, I said, ‘In all humility, I’m the OG of this system, so we’re going to be just fine. We’re all excited about it, and it’s going to be fun to see with the new crew that we have defensively on the coaching staff. That’s why I tell them, every year it evolves to everybody on the staff of what we do with the system, so it’s all of our system…starting with Sherrone.

“It’s one of those things that I think you have the advantage being at the University of Michigan because of the offense and how Sherrone runs the offense. I think that puts us in the right mindset to play great defense, because you better be physical if you’re going to play at the University of Michigan.”

“There are a lot of guys who have come up through our tree, if you will, who are having a lot of success with this system.”