Michigan Wolverines pluck rising star coach away from the SEC to take charge in critical position room
The Wolverines have filled their remaining staff opening with a rising name from the SEC.
Last week, the Michigan Wolverines lost arguably their best coach on staff, when defensive tackles coach Lou Esposito left to coach the defensive line for the Baltimore Ravens under Jesse Minter. Esposito was retained by head coach Kyle Whittingham, but was moved from coaching defensive line to just defensive tackles.
Esposito produced the inarguably best position rooms Michigan had over the past two seasons under their previous coaching staff, trotting out stars like Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, Rayshaun Benny, and creating breakout seasons for players like TJ Guy, Enow Etta, and Trey Pierce. Replacing him will be a tall task, but the Wolverines have pulled an up-and-comer from the SEC to fill in the void.
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The Wolverines hired away Larry Black to serve as their new defensive tackles coach. Black, a former starter with the Indiana Hoosiers, has served as Vanderbilt’s defensive line coach over the last four seasons under head coach Clark Lea. Just this offseason, Black was promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the Commodores.
Throughout his career, Black has coached some intriguing talents at Notre Dame, Toledo, and Vanderbilt, with names like Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara, Ade Odundeji, and Desjuan Johnson on his resume. With the Commodores, Black’s position room helped Vanderbilt finish as one of the top teams in the country in tackles for loss and sacks, led by Khorday Sydnor, Zaylin Wood, and Miles Capers.
Black will have a tall task ahead of him. Michigan’s defensive tackle room has undergone some serious turnover in the offseason, and they are banking on the continued development of Pierce and Etta to shoulder the load up front. Alongside defensive ends coach Lewis Powell, Black’s first order of business will have to be ensuring that room is ready to go ASAP, as the Oklahoma Sooners come to town in Week 2.
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