Michigan’s Coaching Coup: Assistant Coach Leaves Texans Behind for Wolverines
Another coach won’t be back with the Houston Texans in 2024.
According to reports from KPRC2 News, The University of Michigan is hiring Texans safeties coach Stephen Adegoke as their new secondary coach under Sherrone Moore.
Adegoke, 29, spent one season with the Texans under coach DeMeco Ryans after a previous stint as the San Francisco 49ers defensive quality control coach.
Prior to his arrival in the NFL, Adegoke served on staff under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan as a defensive analyst in 2021. He also briefly served as a graduate assistant with Florida for two seasons beginning in 2019.
Under Adegoke’s help, the Texans finished 23rd in pass coverage. Houston’s secondary totaled 16 interceptions during the regular season, including a team-leading five from former first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr.
As the safeties coach, Adegoke spent most of his time with Jimmie Ward and Jalen Pitre. Ward, who joined Ryans from San Francisco, was effective when healthy, but did miss the final three games with a season-ending injury.
Pitre, who finished top 10 in tackles as a rookie, regressed in coverage and saw his rep count take a dip in the new defensive formation.
A former college defensive back, Adegoke spent three seasons with Mississippi State (2016-18) after playing two years at the junior college level for San Diego Mesa from 2014-15. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, he appeared in 16 games and registered 14 tackles, three passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.
In Ann Arbor, Adegoke will be replacing Steve Clinkscale, who followed Harbaugh to take a job with the Chargers. He joins a staff filled with former Harbaugh assistants with an NFL background, including longtime defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, who previously served under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans have lost two coaches since the season’s conclusion. Following the 34-10 loss to Baltimore in the AFC Divisional Round, defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire mutually parted ways with Houston to become the defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns.