Jesse Minter has made his first hire as the Ravens’ new head coach. Notre Dame defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens is set to take the same position in Baltimore, according to multiple reports.

Mickens, 38, has spent the last five years in South Bend, starting as the cornerbacks coach before a promotion to his current title in 2024. In his tenure, Notre Dame’s secondary has been one of the best in the nation, both as a unit and as a producer of NFL talent.

In 2023 and 2024, the Fighting Irish ranked no lower than fourth in passing yards and completion percentage allowed. Their secondary was not quite as effective in 2025, allowing a 55.7% completion rate (15th) and 231.4 yards per game (56th), though they still led the nation with 1.8 interceptions per game. It was somewhat of a ‘gap year’ talent-wise, as Notre Dame has several top DB prospects in the 2025 and 2027 draft classes, but none this year.

Speaking of the NFL players who played under Mickens, here’s the rather impressive list:

Sauce Gardner (Jets, No. 3 overall, 2022): Mickens was Cincinnati’s cornerbacks coach during Gardner’s first-team All-AAC freshman year. Gardner, of course, went on to become one of the best corners in college football and the NFL.

Kyle Hamilton (Ravens, No. 14 overall, 2022): Mickens was officially the cornerbacks coach during Hamilton’s last two years in South Bend, but the two no doubt worked together closely, especially given the All-American safety’s role in the slot. Ravens fans need no description of his exploits in the NFL.

Coby Bryant (Seahawks, 4th round, 2022): Bryant developed under Mickens in 2018 and 2019, earned First-team All-AAC honors in 2020, and finished his college career as an All-American and the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in college football. After two up-and-down years in Seattle, Bryant switched to safety in 2024 and has emerged as a key cog in Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Cam Hart (Chargers, 5th round, 2024): After a relatively unheralded college career, Hart has emerged as a solid CB2/3 in Los Angeles – under Jesse Minter, no less!

Benjamin Morrison (Buccaneers, 2nd round, 2025): Morrison led the FBS with six interceptions in 2022 and 10 passes defended in 2023, earning recognition as a Freshman All-American for the former and a Jim Thorpe Award semi-finalist for the latter.

Xavier Watts (Falcons, 3rd round, 2025): Watts led the nation in interceptions and return yardage in 2023 and 2024. He received All-American nods in both seasons as well as the 2023 Bronco Nagurski Trophy (given annually to the best defender in college football). Watts’ ball production has continued in the NFL; his five interceptions in 2025 ranked second in the league and earned him a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

As mentioned, the Fighting Irish are not sending any top defensive backs to the NFL this year, but their 2027 class includes projected first-rounder Leonard Moore (2024 Freshman All-American, 2025 Unanimous All-American) as well as likely future NFL talents Tae Johnson, D.J. McKinney, Adon Shuler, and Christian Gray.

Mickens and his new head coach go back two decades. They first worked together at the University of Cincinnati, where Minter was a graduate assistant during Mickens’ final two years as a Bearcats cornerback. Minter later hired Mickens as a defensive assistant in his final year as Indiana State’s defensive coordinator. The two will now reunite again in Baltimore, where Mickens will also be working with Hamilton for a second time.

The Ravens will be hoping that Mickens can elevate first-rounders Malaki Starks and Nate Wiggins to their full potential and develop Day 3/undrafted players like T.J. Tampa and Keyon Martin into starters. Do not be surprised, either, if general manager Eric DeCosta goes after a few of Mickens’ former players in next year’s draft.

Fighting Irish fans have been lamenting losing Mickens on social media, which is always a good sign. And here’s some more praise from Notre Dame media: