Jim Harbaugh Hires Another Michigan Coach Away for Chargers Staff

Four assistants are accompanying Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh left Michigan for the NFL and the Los Angeles Chargers. But he’s bringing as much of the staff that helped him win a national championship as he can.

The latest Michigan assistant to head west with Harbaugh is defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. During the past two seasons, Clinkscale, 46, was also the defensive pass game coordinator and co-defensive coordinator on Harbaugh’s staff. He will have those same roles with the Chargers, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale joined Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan staff in 2021.  / Photo Credit: Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Clinkscale’s departure follows the hiring of veteran NFL assistant Don “Wink” Martindale as Michigan’s defensive coordinator. New head coach Sherrone Moore wanted “a head coach for defense” for his first season, rather than a coordinator who didn’t have experience overseeing an entire unit. 

If Clinkscale didn’t have an opportunity to be promoted to defensive coordinator, he viewed going to the NFL as the better move for his coaching career, according to 247Sports’ Sam Webb.

In addition to Clinkscale, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive line coach Mike Elston and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert have left Michigan in recent weeks to join Harbaugh with the Chargers. Jay Harbaugh also left Ann Arbor but opted to take the special teams coach position with the Seattle Seahawks, rather than accompany his father to Los Angeles.