Despite a shakeup of the coaching staff after Sherrone Moore took over, things seemed to settle down at Michigan. However, the defensive line coach position has been a revolving door lately. Just weeks ago, they hired Greg Scruggs, who joined a staff already in flux after the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, Scruggs’ tenure was short-lived after an arrest for alleged DUI.

Coach Sherrone Moore, who replaced Harbaugh, swiftly let go of Scruggs for his “unfortunate mistake.” With the defensive line needing a leader, Michigan wasted no time. They just appointed the co-defensive coordinator at Memphis to fill the coaching void.

Sherrone Moore replaces Scruggs with Memphis DL

Michigan’s defensive line coaching position went from filled to vacant in a flash. They hired Greg Scruggs on March 6, but just 10 days later, he was arrested by Ann Arbor police for allegedly driving while intoxicated. Scruggs never coached a game for the Wolverines and officially resigned on March 21. Luckily, Coach Sherrone Moore acted fast. He found a replacement in Lou Esposito, formerly the co-defense coordinator at Memphis. They have officially confirmed the news reported by 247Wolverine on X. “The news we broke earlier today is now official: Lou Esposito is Michigan football’s new defensive line coach,” they announced.

Esposito brings experience to the role, having coached the defensive line at Western Michigan for seven seasons. He joins a revamped defensive staff, with Wink Martindale recently named defensive coordinator after two seasons in the same role with the New York Giants.

Michigan D-line gets a veteran leader as Esposito steps up

Lou Esposito’s tenure at Memphis was relatively short. But he was most recently a co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Western Michigan, aka Broncos, for seven seasons (2017-2023). This wasn’t his first stint with the Broncos – he previously coached their defensive line from 2010 to 2012. Thus, Esposito’s impact at WMU is quite undeniable. Over a decade, he helped develop 32 All-MAC players and played a key role in the team’s success. He led them to many bowl games and helped players become NFL stars.

Read More: Sherrone Moore Given “Benefit of the Doubt” to Exceed Huge Expectations After Losing Entire Defensive Staff to Jim Harbaugh

But Esposito’s coaching experience goes beyond WMU. He built the football program at Davenport University from scratch, showcasing his leadership skills. He’s also held defensive coordinator positions at Ferris State University and Saint Joseph’s College. Thus, Esposito’s arrival, alongside defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s experience, significantly bolsters the defense. Even with the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan’s defense appears to be in firm hands with these seasoned defensive minds on board. Let us know your thoughts on this “new Sherrone Moore & Co.” in the comments below. 

Read More: Sherrone Moore Battles Uphill as Michigan Staffs’ Drought Persists Without Jim Harbaugh