Wink Martindale the highest-paid assistant in college football

[MightyGiants]

Your question and subsequent point have absolutely nothing do with Wink bearing 100% responsibility for his behavior.

You are blaming Daboll for Wink's reaction. Wink is not a victim. He's a full grown-ass man who acted like a toddler because he didn't like what his boss did and responded with a big "F*CK YOU!" and stormed out of the building. He ignored calls and texts from Schoen.

Daboll lit the fire and Wink poured gasoline on it. He's a college coordinator now because of his own actions.

Wink is the HIGHEST PAID college coordinator because clearly Michigan strongly disagrees with you and @kingm56

[Philosophers]

Wink is the highest paid DC for a couplenof reasons.

1) Michigan has had great success running a Raven style of D with a formwr Raven coach as DC.  First it was Mike MacDonald then Jesse Minter.  Once Minter followed Harbaugh to Los Angeles, they thought hiring Wink (Father of the Ravens D) would be right move.

2) Michigan's new HC is former OC Sherrone Moore.  He is got a big bump in pay but not to Harbaugh level making extra money availble to pay coaches and coordinators.

3) Since this is first time HC Michigan wanted a veteran DC next to him.

Michigan fans are excited about this hire.  I am not.  While the philosophy of the D may be similar, MacDonald and Minter ran very different secondary coverages than Wink.

[T200]

Wink is the HIGHEST PAID college coordinator because clearly Michigan strongly disagrees with you and @kingm56

He was a highly-regarded NFL coordinator. Michigan is ecstatic to have a coach with NFL experience go back down to the college ranks. For Wink, it was a step down.

Wink's tantrum cost him not only $700K but also a job in the NFL. He took a huge step back from his goal of being a head coach.

[kingm56]

He was a highly-regarded NFL coordinator. Michigan is ecstatic to have a coach with NFL experience go back down to the college ranks. For Wink, it was a step down.

Using your logic, the NFL disagrees with you as they found Wink's temperament to be ill-suited for a HC role.

From Michigan's perspective, it makes perfect sense; they can use Wink's presence as a pretty significant recruiting carrot.

Also, Tim is 100% correct; this move cost Wink money...I'm mystified at you're attempt to spin it as anything other than what it is...the NFL rejected him. 

[MightyGiants]

Using your logic, the NFL disagrees with you as they found Wink's temperament to be ill-suited for a HC role.

From Michigan's perspective, it makes perfect sense; they can use Wink's presence as a pretty significant recruiting carrot.

Also, Tim is 100% correct; this move cost Wink money...I'm mystified at you're attempt to spin it as anything other than what it is...the NFL rejected him. 

For the NFL to "disagree with me," 31 teams would have needed to hire a DC or a HC.

Making Wink (who never coached in the college ranks) the highest-paid college DC speaks volumes for the high regard the championship Michigan program holds Wink in.

[kingm56]

For the NFL to "disagree with me," 31 teams would have needed to hire a DC or a HC.

Making Wink (who never coached in the college ranks) the highest-paid college DC speaks volumes for the high regard the championship Michigan program holds Wink in.

So, Wink just started looking for HC opportunities this year?  Odd...

You realize he's interviewed for multiple HC jobs over a career spanning 3 decades and was never hired.  Why wasn't he hired?  The answer is quite obvious...

[T200]

Making Wink (who never coached in the college ranks) the highest-paid college DC speaks volumes for the high regard the championship Michigan program holds Wink in.

No one disputed or disagreed with it.

I will say it again: Wink settled for less than what he wanted. He took a pay cut in salary, status, and prestige. His image took a huge hit.

I think things would have turned out differently for him if he had reacted in a much more mature and grounded way than what he did.

[MightyGiants]

So, Wink just started looking for HC opportunities this year?  Odd...

How many defensive coaches get their first head coaching job after the age of 55?

Let us be fair and honest: It's youth and the offensive side of the ball that most teams are looking for.

[kingm56]

How many defensive coaches get their first head coaching job after the age of 55?

Let us be fair and honest: It's youth and the offensive side of the ball that most teams are looking for.

Why do you believe he never earned a HC shot?  He's had multiple interviews...

[T200]

Martindale and the Giants parted ways in January after a falling out with head coach Brian Daboll. Less than a month later, he landed the defensive coordinator position with the University of Michigan where he reportedly signed a three-year deal with a base salary of $2.3 million in 2024.

That number will increase to $2.5 million in 2025 and $2.7 million in 2026.


https://x.com/thegiantswire/status/1771106032145588637?s=46&t=1vcQIN8GqF5J2oLdxEVEJQ

Did Wink hire his buddies he fell on his sword for?

[Philosophers]

If Wink does a good job at Michigan in 2024, he'll get college HC interviews from good programs.

He may never be HC in the NFL (debatable if he does well in 2024) however colleges will call.

[MightyGiants]

No one disputed or disagreed with it.

I will say it again: Wink settled for less than what he wanted. He took a pay cut in salary, status, and prestige. His image took a huge hit.

I think things would have turned out differently for him if he had reacted in a much more mature and grounded way than what he did.

Tim,

I have a hard time buying the image of Wink you are painting (a coach with a serious emotional IQ problem) who would storm off after they fired a couple of his key coaches and acted like a "toddler" or "child." I can't see that sort of coach being in such high demand at even the college level and certainly not in such demand as being instantly the highest-paid assistant coach.

[MightyGiants]

Did Wink hire his buddies he fell on his sword for?

I believe both of them got jobs before Wink did

[Philosophers]

I believe both of them got jobs before Wink did

Kevin Wilkins was hired by Michigan as Defensive Football Analyst so not an on the field coach.  Drew Wilkins was not hired by Michigan.

[MightyGiants]

Kevin Wilkins was hired by Michigan as Defensive Football Analyst so not an on the field coach.  Drew Wilkins was not hired by Michigan.

Drew got a job with the Patriots, I believe