When Michigan’s DL coach, Lou Esposito, left Ann Arbor to join the Baltimore Ravens, fans assumed the Wolverines would promote David Denham and keep things in-house. But as days passed, it became clear that now head coach Kyle Whittingham had something else in mind. On Saturday, that search landed in the SEC.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Michigan is set to hire Vanderbilt defensive line coach Larry Black. Black, who is just 36, brings a solid four years of experience from Nashville. Vanderbilt’s interior linemen totaled 13.5 of the team’s 31 sacks last season, with two tackles finishing second and fourth on the team in sacks. The Commodores also ranked 18th nationally in rush defense, which was two spots before Michigan.

Black was a former defensive tackle at Indiana from 2009 to 2013. Then briefly played for the Cincinnati Bengals before he was hit with a devastating leg injury. That cut his career short. Coaching became the next step. He started small at Carthage College, then moved into graduate assistant stops at Toledo and Notre Dame. Then he found his way back to Toledo as a full-time defensive line coach before finally landing at Vanderbilt in 2022.

Now, he heads to Ann Arbor to team up with edge coach Lewis Powell on a completely rebuilt Michigan defensive staff that will be coordinated by Jay Hill.

Who is Larry Black’s wife?

Larry Black is married to Kaylin (Ploeger) Black, and their story honestly feels like one of those small-town, college lovebirds that just kept going. Kaylin is a 2008 graduate of Jac-Cen-Del High School and later attended Indiana University, the same place Larry was grinding it out as a defensive tackle for the Hoosiers. They started dating during her freshman year in college, back when Larry was still in Big Ten football.

The couple got married in 2016 and have since built a growing family with three children, Ace, and twins Axel and Amaya.

Who are Larry Black’s parents & siblings?

Larry Black is a Cincinnati native, raised in Ohio before heading to Indiana for college. While he tends to keep details about his parents private, it’s clear that his upbringing shaped both his discipline and work ethic. Growing up in Wyoming, Ohio, and playing at Wyoming High School, he developed the blue-collar mindset that often shows up on the sidelines on Saturdays.

One of the more family connection in football is his brother, Jibreel Black, who also played defensive tackle at Michigan from 2010 to 2013. That connection makes Larry’s arrival in Ann Arbor feel a little more personal. There’s history tied to the program through his own family.

What is Larry Black’s ethnicity & nationality?

Larry Black is American by nationality, born and brought up in Cincinnati, Ohio. His football journey from Wyoming High School to Indiana University and eventually into coaching has largely unfolded within the Midwest.

While there are no specific public details about his ethnicity, Black has participated in initiatives like the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. That program aimed at increasing diversity in NFL coaching ranks.

What is Larry Black’s net worth?

We don’t have the exact figures on Larry Black’s net worth publicly confirmed, but based on his progression through major college programs and SEC coaching salaries, it’s reasonable to estimate that he has built solid financial portfolio over the years. In 2024, Vanderbilt’s football salary pool was reported at over $3.7 million, and as defensive line coach which was later promoted to defensive run game coordinator in 2025 , Black would have earned a competitive SEC assistant salary.

Then you can also add in the incentives for playoff appearances including the 2018 CPF semifinal with Notre Dame and Vanderbilt’s Birmingham Bowl championship in 2024. His move to Michigan will continue that upward financial trajectory.

What are Larry Black’s football career highlights?

As a player at Indiana from 2009 to 2013, Black recorded 127 career tackles in 48 games as a defensive tackle. After college, he briefly played professionally with the Cincinnati Bengals before a devastating leg injury cut his NFL hopes short. That moment redirected his football journey.

As a coach, Black’s highlights may actually stand out even more. At Vanderbilt, his 2024 defensive line helped deliver the program’s first winning season and bowl victory in over a decade. The rushing defense jumped dramatically from 104th nationally in 2023 to 52nd in 2024, while sack production got up from 101st to 64th. Players like Khordae Sydnor, Yilanan Ouattara, De’Marion Thomas, and Glenn Seabrooks III developed under his guidance. Before that, at Toledo and Notre Dame, he mentored multiple future NFL linemen including Jerry Tillery, Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, and others.

Now the question is can Black turn Michigan’s defensive interior into something scary?