Michigan’s new safeties coach is bringing a clear message into Ann Arbor: build trust, demand more, and make life miserable for opposing offenses.
Tyler Stockton, who arrives with coordinating experience and a track record coaching defensive backs, is one of the notable additions Kyle Whittingham made after settling on his staff. The Wolverines also brought in Jenaro Gilford to handle the cornerbacks, giving the secondary a fresh look heading into 2026.
Stockton’s résumé stretches across several stops. He spent the 2022-2025 seasons at Boise State as co-defensive coordinator while also coaching the safeties. Before that, he ran the Ball State defense as coordinator from 2020-2023, and in his final season with the Cardinals, that unit finished with a nationally top-25 defense.
On Michigan’s X account, Stockton laid out the way he wants to coach his room. He said, "My coaching style, there's two things," said Stockton.
"First, it starts with love. I want to build a relationship with my guys that they know that I have their best interests.
And I want to build a relationship that they'll run through a wall for me, and I'll do the same thing. Next piece is, I got to be very demanding.
They're going to have dreams and aspirations, and it'd be a shame if I let them slip. So I'm going to hold them accountable every single day."
He inherits a safety group with real talent already in place. Rod Moore is back for another season and is expected to become the first-ever three-time captain in Ann Arbor. Memphis transfer Chris Bracy is also in line to start alongside him, while Mason Curtis and Jordan Young are positioned for bigger roles as well.
Stockton said the standard at Michigan has to be high, and he wants that room playing with edge. "Here in Michigan, man, we expect to have the best of the best," Stockton said.
"We want someone hungry every single day with a chip on their shoulder with their goal and aspiration to play at the NFL, but also to compete in the classroom. That's the type of group of guys that we have in this academy, a group of guys that truly care and love each other every single day.
And then with that, they're going to be violent, they're going to be physical, and we're going to find ways to get turnovers."
With 12 years of coaching experience, Stockton is stepping into a room that could be one of the more interesting parts of Michigan’s defense. Fall camp is close, and the next question is how the rotation settles in.
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