Football
- Title:
- Matthew and Nicole Lester Family Football Defensive Coordinator
Jesse Minter is in his second season as the Matthew and Nicole Lester Family Football Defensive Coordinator in 2023. Minter joined the U-M coaching staff following one season (2021) as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Vanderbilt. Before that, he spent four seasons as a defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens, coaching the defensive backs in 2020.
Minter was a Broyles Award finalist after leading a top-10 defensive unit in his first season at the helm. The 2022 defense ranked No. 6 in the NCAA in total defense with No. 7 rankings in scoring defense and rushing defense and a No. 5 ranking in pass efficiency defense. Mike Morris was a second-team All-American and the defense saw four players earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors with all 11 starters earning some form of recognition from the conference. Three players were drafted including first-round pick Mazi Smith.
Prior to joining the staff in Ann Arbor, Minter gained experience as a defensive coordinator at three different programs: Indiana State (2011-12), Georgia State (2013-16), and at Vanderbilt (2021).
Minter spent four seasons with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens (2017-20). Minter was a defensive assistant for three years with the Ravens and coached the team's defensive backs in 2020. He was part of consecutive AFC North Division championship teams in 2018 and 2019, and helped Baltimore reach the postseason in three of four seasons with the organization.
The Ravens ranked third in the NFL in fewest yards/passing attempt (6.4) and seventh in defensive passer rating (87.2) during the 2020 season. The secondary helped Baltimore list eighth in rushing yards allowed (1,740) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns surrendered (12).
In his first season with the organization (2017), Minter worked closely with secondary coach Chris Hewitt and the defensive backs. The Ravens led the NFL in interceptions (22) and turnover differential (+17) that year while Minter learned the responsibilities and details of quality control, self-scouting, and opponent analysis on both sides of the ball.
During the 2018 season, Minter helped Baltimore achieve the NFL's top defensive unit, surrendering a league-low 292.9 yards per contest and 17.9 points per game, the second-lowest mark in the league. Quarterbacks were limited to a passer rating of 80.6 against the Ravens' secondary. The following year in 2019, three Baltimore defensive backs made the Pro Bowl while the team finished top-six in the league in several categories: passer rating against (77.5), fewest points allowed per game (17.6), net yards allowed per game (300.6), rushing yards allowed per game (93.4), and passing yards allowed per game (207.2). The team won 14 games in the regular season, setting a new franchise record.
Prior to arriving in Baltimore, Minter spent four seasons at Georgia State (2013-16) as the defensive coordinator. The first two seasons at Georgia State established a foundation for a young program, which got its start in 2010, but a 6-7 season in 2015 marked a change as the program became bowl-eligible for the first time in its history. No team had a bigger improvement in scoring defense from 2014 to 2015, with GSU allowing 15 fewer points and 122.3 fewer yards per game. Six members of the defense earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors and Minter was recognized with a nomination for the 2015 Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football. The following year in 2016, the Panther defense finished top-25 nationally in red zone defense, yards per play allowed and pass efficiency defense. Minter was also named the conference's top recruiter by Scout.com.
Minter spent four seasons at Indiana State, the final two as the program's defensive coordinator (2011-12) after coaching the linebackers during his initial two seasons (2009-10). During his two seasons as defensive coordinator, 13 Indiana State players earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. In his final season with the Sycamores, Minter's defensive unit ranked third in the FBS in scoring defense (14.32 points per game) and sixth in total defense (296.4 avg.). Indiana State also listed fifth in FCS in pass efficiency defense, 14th in passing yards allowed and 28th in rushing yards allowed.
He was a key component in the Sycamores' turnaround under head coach Trent Miles, which saw Indiana State post a winning record in 2010 for the first time since 1996. The program added winning seasons in 2011 and 2012 to the Sycamores three straight winning seasons for the first time since the 1960s.
Minter was a defensive graduate assistant coach at Cincinnati during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, helping coach the linebackers. The Bearcats won the Big East Conference title in 2008 and earned a BCS berth in the Orange Bowl. Cincinnati's defense led the nation in takeaways in 2007.
Minter attended the College of Mount Saint Joseph, where he played wide receiver and graduated with a degree in liberal studies (2005). During his time as a Lion, Minter helped the team compile a 30-10 record with consecutive conference titles and two Division III playoff appearances (2004-05). He began his coaching career as an intern at Notre Dame in 2006.
Minter's father, Rick, is the former head coach at Cincinnati (1994-2003).
He and his wife, Rachelle, have three children: daughter, Millie, and sons, Monte and Mac.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Season | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2022- | Michigan | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2021 | Vanderbilt | Defensive Coordinator/Safeties |
| 2020 | Baltimore Ravens | Defensive Backs |
| 2017-19 | Baltimore Ravens | Defensive Assistant |
| 2013-16 | Georgia State | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2011-12 | Indiana State | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2009-10 | Indiana State | Linebackers |
| 2007-08 | Cincinnati | Defensive Graduate Assistant |
| 2006 | Notre Dame | Defensive Intern |
BOWL GAME/PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE
| Season | School/Team | Bowl Game/Playoffs |
| 2020 | Baltimore Ravens | AFC Divisional Round |
| 2019 | Baltimore Ravens | AFC Divisional Round |
| 2018 | Baltimore Ravens | AFC Wild Card Round |
| 2015 | Georgia State | Cure Bowl |
| 2008 | Cincinnati | Orange Bowl |
| 2007 | Cincinnati | PapaJohns.com Bowl |
| 2006 | Notre Dame | Sugar Bowl |
