Heading into Year 2 of the Sherrone Moore era, how comfortable should each member of his staff feel? Today, we rank Michigan Football’s coaching staff by job security:
After winning the National Championship as an offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore was the logical choice to be the next head coach at the University of Michigan. While his first year was full of ups and downs, it ended on an emphatic upswing. There was never going to be any heat or pressure on Moore in his first year as head coach. However as the calendar turns to Year 2, his decisions will be scrutinized at a closer level.
The same applies to each assistant coach. While no coach is heading into the season on the hot seat, that narrative could shift one way or the other depending on how the season progresses. Today, we’re ranking each assistant coach based on how secure his job is.
1. Lou Esposito, Defensive Line
Am I being a victim of recency bias by placing Esposito this high? Possibly. However when you prove to be one of the best recruiters in the nation and have a proven track record of developing players, it’s hard to not put you at No. 1. Esposito has already gained six commitments along the defensive line in the 2026 class in one of the most prestigious hauls in program history. His job is as safe as it could be.
2. Chip Lindsey, Offensive Coordinator
Lindsey’s offensive plans are still largely unknown since we haven’t seen it on the field outside of the spring game. However, a coordinator should be afforded at least a few years to install his system before coming under any pressure or scrutiny.
3. LaMar Morgan, Defensive Backs
Like Esposito, Moore appears to have unearthed a gem in Morgan. He was a bit of an unknown before coming to Michigan, but he has proved to be a quality recruiter and developer of talent. The only concern is how long the Wolverines can retain Morgan’s services, as I’m sure other programs will come along offering a defensive coordinator spot.
4. Wink Martindale, Defensive Coordinator
The Michigan fanbase’s journey with Martindale is unlike anything I’ve seen in recent memory. After the first few losses in 2024, most fans wanted him gone as soon as possible, as he seemed unwilling to adjust his scheme for the personnel he had available. However, he put together some of the best game plans we’ve seen in years against Ohio State and Alabama. Assuming he continues to build on his late-season successes, his job is safe.
5. Steve Casula, Co-OC and Tight Ends
Casula helped develop Colston Loveland into a Top-10 pick in the NFL Draft , which is no small feat for a tight end. He also appears to have recruiting chops, as he has secured commitments from four-star Matt Ludwig and three-star Mason Bonner in 2026. It’s tough to evaluate a coach who was handed an All-American caliber player, but Casula’s promotion to co-offensive coordinator this offseason seems promising for his career trajectory.
6. Tony Alford, Running Backs
Just because Alford is sixth on this list does not mean his job is in any trouble. He was brought to Michigan to recruit the best running backs in the country. He has had mixed results so far, as Michigan has swung for the fences a few times and missed. However, the room is far from deplete, as Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes appear set to dominate this fall. It would be really nice if he landed 2026 five-star Savion Hiter.
7. Brian Jean-Mary, Linebackers
Like Casula, it’s tough to evaluate coaches who are handed a depth chart stocked with talent. Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham have made Jean-Mary’s job easy so far, and his linebacker room appears to be loaded for 2025 and beyond. The only reason he’s so low on this list is because of his performance relative to expectations when he was hired. Jean-Mary was viewed as a pivotal recruiter; while his recruiting hasn’t been bad, he hasn’t taken the world by storm either.
8. Grant Newsome, Offensive Line
Newsome has been absolutely pivotal on the recruiting trail lately. He helped haul in Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood last cycle, and already has commitments from Malakai Lee, Bear McWhorter and Marky Walbridge in 2026. Now, it’s time to show it on the field. The line was largely disappointing last year and has some holes in it on paper for this fall. The young talent is very apparent, but for the Wolverines need to rely on the offensive line to be successful offensively. Time will tell how that goes this fall.
9. J.B. Brown, Special Teams
Dominic Zvada was an absolute revelation for the Wolverines last season, but special teams coaches are a dime a dozen, and the punter situation looks a bit up in the air. Brown’s job is by no means in jeopardy, but if things go south in 2025, it wouldn’t be too challenging to find a replacement.
10. Ron Bellamy, Wide Receivers
Bellamy is in a very difficult spot, as he’s tasked with recruiting elite wide receivers to a program that has historically not used the passing game nearly as much as their counterparts. He’s done admirably, but 2024 was a bit of a falling out for the position. Things appear headed in the right direction in 2025 and beyond, as Lindsey’s offensive plans have made it easier to promise recruits targets, but things need to improve for this group quickly.
In totality, I wouldn’t consider any of these coaches to be on the hot seat. While Bellamy’s is the warmest — at least from the fan base — I wouldn’t consider it hot just yet. The larger concern is coaches like Esposito, Morgan and Casula potentially getting poached for larger roles at other programs. That’s a good spot to be in if you’re Michigan football.