An 8-5 record in the first year. Decent but expectations have soared to great heights in Sherrone Moore‘s second year in Ann Arbor. With Michigan in a pivotal offseason, the pressure is mounting, not just on the HC, but also on OL coach Grant Newsome. This had led the Wolverines to reload in key areas. And the latest development is the addition to the defensive staff by bringing in a coach with ties to their DL coach.
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports dropped a major Michigan hiring update on X on March 15. Per the report, “Michigan has hired Charlotte defensive tackles coach David Denham as an assistant defensive line coach. Before Charlotte, was a DL coach at Western Michigan, where he coached multiple future NFL early-round draft picks and worked with current Michigan DL coach Lou Esposito.” This is a move that strengthens a unit adjusting to life without DLs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, two Michigan pillars who are NFL bound.
Michigan has hired Charlotte defensive tackles coach David Denham as an assistant defensive line coach, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Before Charlotte, was a DL coach at Western Michigan, where he coached multiple future NFL early-round draft picks and worked with current… pic.twitter.com/FDxOC2TJPG
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 14, 2025
David Denham isn’t stepping into an unfamiliar territory. He previously worked alongside Lou Esposito at Western Michigan. The duo played a key role in developing multiple future NFL draft picks including Braden Fiske and Marshawn Kneeland. He was the D-line coach from 2020-24, also serving as the recruiting coordinator in Kalamazoo in his final year. Beyond the Michigan connection, he was also Charlotte’s DT coach under associate HC Biff Poggi, another Michigan connection.
Before that, David Denham also had stints at various colleges including UIndy, Wabash College, and Rose-Hulman. A former LB at Tiffin University who later transferred to Ball State, the new Wolverines assistant DL coach brings deep Midwest ties and a reputation for player development. This isn’t just about adding another coach. It’s about keeping Michigan’s defensive front dominant. You can’t slack in both defense and offense, can you?
The heat surrounding OL coach Grant Newsome
While Michigan’s defensive staff is growing, Grant Newsome finds himself facing serious doubts. The Wolverines’ O-line play in 2024 was a far cry from the Joe Moore award-winning dominance of past years. They struggled in pass protection, lacked consistency in the run game, and at times looked completely overmatched. The backslide was so severe that Michigan insider James Yoder gave the coach a “C” grade for the season.
“For starters, okay, some challenges there, and they did get better by the end of the year, but not great,” Yoder said. Slow starts can’t make a cut for Michigan this season. That’s why Sherrone Moore brought in veteran NFL O-line coach Juan Castillo as their new offensive analyst to assist Grant Newsome this season. While this hire is framed as support, it also signals a lack of confidence in Newsome to turn things around on his own. And as Yoder added, “I think he is short for the job. I think he’ll get replaced.”
If Grant Newsome’s unit struggles again in 2025, the scrutiny will only intensify. And if the Wolverines takes a step back overall, the conversation might shift from his job security to Sherrone Moore’s own future in Michigan.
The post Sherrone Moore Makes Big Coaching Announcement after OL Coach Grant Newsome Lands on Hot Seat Over Concerning Dilemma appeared first on EssentiallySports.
