Just as the Michigan Wolverines seemed to have completed their defensive coaching staff, reports indicate that the team is set to welcome another addition.
According to 247Sports, Louisiana quality control coach Lionel Stokes is slated to join Michigan as a defensive analyst. Stokes, who collaborated closely with the Wolverines’ new defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan last season, is expected to continue their partnership in Ann Arbor.
Before joining Louisiana, Stokes held coaching positions at Nicholls State, where he worked with the corners, and at Jackson State from 2017 to 2019. At Jackson State, he served as a defensive backs coach for two years before assuming the role of defensive coordinator for one year.
Stokes, a former two-year starting safety at Louisiana from 2010 to 2011, transitioned into coaching immediately after his playing career, starting as a graduate assistant with the Ragin’ Cajuns.
While Stokes’ hiring may not generate headlines, his experience and expertise could prove valuable. Last season, Doug Mallory, who served as an analyst for the secondary, played a crucial role in the team’s defensive strategies against top passing offenses. With Mallory’s departure to the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive backs coach, Stokes, a younger coach, is expected to step into a similar role. Morgan and Moore have expressed confidence in Stokes’ ability to contribute effectively to defensive game planning.
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