Jesse Minter's two-year tenure has made it clear that the Michigan Wolverines have an elite defense. The development of several secondary players contributed to a top-ranked unit that helped propel this team and program to a national championship.
Amidst the many changes that have taken place since the Wolverines hoisted the College Football Playoff trophy, new head coach Sherone Moore has turned to Minter's old friend to help keep the secondary afloat.
Lamar Morgan revolutionized the defensive backfield at basically every stage of his career. For the past two seasons, Morgan served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Louisiana. He was a standout safety for the Ragin' Cajuns from 2003 to 2007, joining the program twice as secondary coach and eventually leading the entire defense.
The 2022 team went 6-7, but also had 15 interceptions from the secondary, ranking 37th nationally in scoring defense and good enough for 14th in college football. Overall, five members of the Ragin' Cajuns defense earned All-Sun Belt honors in Morgan's first year leading the defense.
Due to personnel changes, the defensive power decreased slightly in 2023. The unit allowed nearly one touchdown per game more than the standout defense in 2022, falling to 92nd in college football. However, the secondary still boasts double-digit interceptions (13), ranking in the top 25 in the nation. They were also respectable at 51st in pass defense, allowing just over 200 yards per game.
Morgan stood out to the University of Louisiana players on and off the field during his time as defensive coordinator. Defensive end Andre Jones praised his coach in an interview with The Advocate. “He'll try to help everyone get to where they want to be. He'll say, 'Are you OK?' What were your parents doing? It means something to me. I don't know about anyone else, but it means a lot to me. ”
Ann Arbor's new passing game coordinator and secondary coach came highly recommended by former boss Jesse Minter. The two were at Vanderbilt together in 2021 for a short stint from Morgan. He served as a graduate assistant for the Commodores in 2012 and 2013 before returning to coach cornerbacks under Minter. Together, they improved Vanderbilt's dismal defense from two interceptions in 2020 to 13 interceptions in 2021. He also allowed 30 fewer yards per game through the air.
Morgan's other duties include coaching the secondary at D-II Western Carolina in 2014-15, where All-Southern Conference corner Trey Morgan led one of the team's 11 interceptions. He led the league in six innings. He returned to Louisiana in 2016-17 and coached safeties at Louisiana-Monroe before taking the same job at Houston in 2018. In his only season with the Cougars, two of the team's top four tacklers were safeties, and they combined for six interceptions. .
In 2018, Morgan participated in the AFCA 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. This one-day event aims to discover and develop up-and-coming leaders in the soccer world. Coaches are invited to network and receive lectures on leadership, ethics, NCAA rules, the recruiting process and athlete safety.
The previous year, Morgan also participated in the NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy, which aims to improve the ability of coaches to lead student-athletes on and off the field. Topics include effective communication, building a soccer culture, budget management, strategy and philosophy. Michigan State's new secondary coach has a clear dedication to continuing to hone interpersonal skills and coaching strategies with new ideas across the coaching field.
Morgan will take over a star-studded group in 2023. He will have the best corner in college football at his disposal in Will Johnson. Rod Moore and Makari Page are also veterans who have been to the summit. It would be a huge disappointment if this group doesn't have a great season in 2024. So expectations will be high for Morgan's first season.
If things go according to plan under coach Wink Martindale and Michigan's new defensive coordinator is recalled to the big leagues, I wouldn't be surprised if Morgan is the next candidate to take over as defensive coordinator. right. He was coached under Minter and has already found success in the role, and knows the philosophy he implemented in Ann Arbor. Michigan fans should expect the success they've seen in the secondary the past few seasons to continue in 2024 under new guidelines.
