Jim Harbaugh: Jesse Minter and Jay Harbaugh are ‘shining stars,’ no ‘final decisions’ on Chargers staff yet

As Jim Harbaugh settles in to his new job as Los Angeles Chargers head coach, his next step will be to fill out his staff. He’s reportedly bringing at least one assistant with him from Michigan, but it’s worth wondering if more will follow.

MLive reported Jay Harbaugh is preparing to join his dad in L.A. after serving as Michigan’s special teams coordinator. However, another notable assistant – Wolverines defensive coordinator Jesse Minter – could also land a spot on the Chargers’ staff, as well.

Jim Harbaugh was asked about those decisions, and he pointed out the staff is still a work in progress. However, he had high praise for both Minter and Jay Harbaugh.

“Going through the process right now,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Timeline, I mean, just got to get it right. John said it, and I respect the way they went about that process. There’s so many good coaches out there, and nobody I respect more than Jesse. He’s phenomenal. Shining star as a coach, I’ve been with him. I want to talk to as many people as I can before we make the final hires. But he would be tremendous if we were, and I think Jay’s a great coach, a shining star, as well.

“So we’ll let you know. Haven’t made the final decisions on the staff yet.”

Minter last worked in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens under Harbaugh’s brother, John. He started out as a defensive assistant from 2017-18 and worked his way up to defensive backs coach by the 2020 season. He then returned to the college level as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator in 2021 and joined forces with Harbaugh at Michigan in 2022 after the departure of Mike Macdonald.

The Wolverines’ defense was one of the best in the nation this past season as they won their first national championship in 26 years. Michigan led the nation in total defense, holding opponents to 247 yards per game and an FBS-leading 10.4 points per contest.

After the national championship, all eyes were on Harbaugh’s next steps and whether he’d head back to the NFL. However, Minter was also reportedly a candidate to return to the league, and the signs point toward him sticking with Harbaugh and joining the Chargers at some point.

His departure left a big hole for new head coach Sherrone Moore to fill, and he said that process is ongoing as he takes over at Michigan.

“We haven’t replaced the defensive coordinator yet,” Moore said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. “We’ve got a few names and people in the in the boat to do that, and we’ve got a great staff. We have people here on the staff that we’re trying we’re to keep, we’re going to try and retain. So the staff is starting to shape out bit by bit, every day. And I think by next week or so, we’ll have that in place.”