If you’re wondering if Jim Harbaugh is coming back to Michigan football next season, here may be a hint.
The Free Press has confirmed U-M is expected to hire Mike Elston as defensive line coach. Elston, who held the same position at Notre Dame, will replace Shaun Nua after he left the Wolverines to take a similar role at USC earlier this month.
It’s a homecoming for Elston, who played outside linebacker at Michigan from 1993-96 and had 10 starts across in his junior and senior seasons. He then spent four years on the U-M as a student assistant, video intern and graduate assistant.
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The 47-year-old from St. Marys, Ohio, played in four bowl games in four seasons with U-M.
After three seasons at Eastern Michigan as defensive ends coach (2001) and defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (2002-03), Elston joined Brian Kelly’s staff when he was hired at Central Michigan in 2004.
He coached the defensive line in 2004, was named co-defensive coordinator in 2005, and then moved to linebackers and special teams in 2006. When Kelly left CMU for Cincinnati, Elston joined him. From 2007-08, Elston was the tight ends/special teams coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2009, he was made an assistant head coach.
Then in 2010, Kelly was hired by Notre Dame, and Elston also joined. him. He coached the defensive line from 2010-14, then coached linebackers and was the recruiting coordinator from 2015-16. He switched back to the defensive line in 2017 and was made an assistant head coach in 2018.
