The NCAA Division I Council has approved a rule change allowing analysts to coach during practice and games, a move that's effective immediately and offers large-budget programs like Michigan another edge in the ever-changing college football landscape. 

The rule had initially been expected to pass last year. As of Tuesday evening, it has now officially been approved. It means the following Michigan football analysts are permitted to provide on-field coaching: 

Michigan football offensive analysts: 

  • Jack Clark
  • Nick Gilbert
  • Bret Ingalls
  • Josh Sinagoga 

Michigan football defensive analysts: 

  • Anthony Marciano 
  • Pernell McPhee 
  • Lionel Stokes 
  • Kevin Wilkins

Michigan football special teams analyst: 

  • Garrett Clawson 

Programs like Michigan, which boasts an athletic department with operating revenues of $230.6 million in the 2024 fiscal year, often bolster their football staff with analysts that until now could not legally offer on-field coaching. 

Earlier this year, the NCAA found Michigan had violated the previous rule by allowing “coaching activities by noncoaching staff members that occurred within the football program.” The announced agreement between the two parties included probation and recruiting restrictions.

The role of a typical analyst includes the following responsibilities, per a recent job posting from the University of Miami: 

  • Assists offensive/defensive coordinator(s) with all duties for practice and game plan preparation, which involves the distribution of offensive/defensive game plans (including schedules and scripts).
  • Assists with on campus recruiting and recruiting functions, summer camps, and coaches' clinics.
  • Provides statistical breakdowns for offensive coaches. Provides breakdowns for defense coaches and cutups for offseason study.
  • Collects opponents' videos for the University football team in order to analyze practices and games to determine trends and strategies. Identifies, determines and breaks down specific game content, creating a detailed description of each play.
  • Creates a game plan and tip sheet that summarizes opponents, their tendencies and outlines our strategies for that opponent.

The Wolverines should especially benefit from the NCAA rule change on the defensive side of the ball, where the program has undergone a complete coaching change since winning the 2023 national championship. New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale hired Wilkins, his longtime right-hand man, who brings nine years of NFL experience to Ann Arbor. Wilkins also worked with Michigan's previous two defensive coordinators, Mike Macdonald and Jesse Minter, while in Baltimore, and is experienced working with inside linebackers.

McPhee played with the Ravens from 2011-14 and 2019-21, winning a Super Bowl with Baltimore. 

"I think the great thing is that we were all together, Mike (Macdonald), Jesse (Minter) and I and, obviously, others you've seen throughout the NFL. I think there's like six teams that are running this system now. Same thing college-wise, D'Anton Lynn at USC," Martindale said of his defense shortly after he was hired at Michigan.  "It's been a lot of fun, and I think we all have our own personalities but I think we all call games differently than each other. Some are more aggressive, some are less aggressive.

"The thing that I love about it is the system works. It's proven that it works. I think both Mike and Jesse did a tremendous job here at Michigan and it's fun for me to watch the tape because you do become the proud parent, if you will, of seeing other guy's success and everything else. I think as the defensive coordinator, I think it's my job to not only develop players but to develop coaches. You're seeing a lot of success with those guys."