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Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale was hired for the same job at the University of Michigan next season. Sources told ESPN, 247 Sports and the Detroit News on Friday about the Wolverines' agreement to hire Martindale. The longtime NFL assistant resigned from his role with the Giants in January.
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Martindale, 60, served as Giants defensive coordinator for the last two seasons. They allowed the sixth-most yards in 2023 and eighth-most in 2022, mostly struggling against the run.
Martindale worked on the Baltimore Ravens staff from 2012 through 2019, which included four years as defensive coordinator. He also worked for the Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos.
He was Broncos' defensive coordinator in 2010 when they allowed the most points and yards in the NFL. He had much more success while leading the Ravens defense, which ranked inside the Top 7 for fewest yards allowed in three of his four seasons.
The Ravens allowed the fewest yards in the league under Martindale in 2018.
The veteran assistant spent time on the collegiate staffs of Defiance, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Western Illinois and Western Kentucky before entering the NFL coaching ranks.
The Wolverines had the best defense in college football last season, allowing a national-low 10.4 points and 247 yards per game.
Jesse Minter, who served as Wolverines defensive coordinator for the last two seasons, left this off-season to take the same role with the Los Angeles Chargers, who hired former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh in January.
The Wolverines announced two days later that offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore would replace Harbaugh as head coach.
