Inside the details of Michigan football DL coach Mike Elston's contract
Mike Elston rejoined Michigan football at a time when rumors floated about his new boss’ potential departure.
But as the speculation about head coach Jim Harbaugh’s future continued, Elston signed a memorandum of understanding Jan. 13 that offers him security.
The Wolverines’ new defensive line coach agreed to a three-year, $1.875 million deal. His base salary in 2022 is $600,000 and will increase by $25,000 each subsequent year. The impending contract, which is expected to be finalized by April 12, will expire in January 2025.
Elston, a Michigan outside linebacker in the mid-1990s, was appointed to replace Shaun Nua after he left for the same position at USC. Elston spent the past 12 seasons at Notre Dame working on Brian Kelly’s defensive staff. He began his coaching career in Ann Arbor, where he was a video intern and graduate assistant at U-M.
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Among Michigan’s eight position coaches, Elston is one of two who have agreed to a three-year deal. The other is defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. The rest signed two-year contracts set to expire in 2023.
With defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald expected to return to the Baltimore Ravens, Elston could be a candidate to replace him.
According to Elston’s MOU, “The University has no right to reassign Coach to a differing position without Coach's written permission.”
Should Elston leave Michigan and take another job after the 2022 regular season, he would owe $150,000. That sum would double if he is hired for another position at a Big Ten program. In the event he is named a head coach at another university or NFL franchise, he would be exempt from paying a buyout. The same is true if Harbaugh is no longer Michigan’s coach.
Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @RainerSabin. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Big Ten newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football DL coach Mike Elston's contract details
