Michigan wolverine officially appointed $95.7 Million as A new  coach For The 2024 Season On A Year Contract…

The Michigan football team’s recently hired defensive line coach might be new to the Wolverines’ program, but he’s no stranger to its home state.

On Friday, Michigan coach Sherrone Moore officially hired Lou Esposito as the Wolverines’ new defensive line coach. Esposito fills the spot that Greg Scruggs left, following Scruggs’ resignation after allegedly operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

“I am excited to welcome Lou to our Michigan Football family and look forward to having his leadership and experience directing our defensive linemen,” Moore said in a statement. “Lou is a great defensive mind that has developed outstanding players and produced top units at the line of scrimmage throughout his coaching career. He will be a great asset and mentor for the young men in our program.”

Esposito comes to Ann Arbor from Memphis, his alma mater, where he was hired as co-defensive coordinator in January. Before returning to the Tigers, though, Esposito spent seven years with Western Michigan as well as brief stints at Davenport and Ferris State — all Michigan schools.

In his last few years as defensive coordinator for the Broncos, Esposito led one of the best defenses in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). During the 2022 season, Western Michigan ranked third in scoring defense and second in yards allowed. According to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider, Esposito was Michigan’s top choice after the departure of Scruggs.

Now, Esposito will take the reins of what could be one of the best defensive lines in both the Big Ten and the nation, highlighted by top returners in junior defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.

Esposito joins a coaching staff that went through significant turnover this offseason. He did overlap with new tight ends coach Steve Casula at Western Michigan and Davenport, ensuring at least one familiar face.

As spring ball continues to ramp up, the Wolverines and Moore hope that Esposito is the last piece of their coaching puzzle.

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“I am excited to welcome Lou to our Michigan Football family and look forward to having his leadership and experience directing our defensive linemen,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said in the press release. “Lou is a great defensive mind that has developed outstanding players and produced top units at the line of scrimmage throughout his coaching career. He will be a great asset and mentor for the young men in our program.”

“Esposito is well-known around the Midwest as he recruited the state of Michigan, Illinois and spot-recruited some other areas at Davenport, Ferris State and then Western Michigan,” 247 Sports Allen Trieu said. “He was responsible for recruiting and developing three defensive linemen who could be drafted next month in Braden Fiske, who transferred from Western Michigan to Florida State, Andre Carter, who transferred from Western to Indiana, and Marshawn Kneeland who stayed at Western despite overtures from Colorado and other schools.”

Esposito, 47, will be coaching a unit that includes arguably two of the nation’s best defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. His hiring comes when time is of the essence. Michigan’s amid spring practices and he’ll have to get acclimated to Michigan’s scheme quickly while also developing relationships with the players. On the surface, it sounds as if Michigan hired a coach who knows how to recruit at a high level and develop players at a high level. The fact that Esposito has experience calling plays as a defensive coordinator is also a plus.