umaz1

January 29th, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^

Great news. Hopefully there will be little drop off with the same system. Not sure this guy can match Herbert's intensity, but should be able to use the same techniques. 

firstmachineage

January 29th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^

While It is tough to see Coach Herbert leave, I'm encouraged that this is an internal promotion and  that the hire happened quickly which tells me there was a plan in place. 

BJNavarre

January 29th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^

We've had a lot of S&C coaches at Michigan that we were convinced are amazing - RR's guy, Sanderson, Herbert. I don't think it's an easy job, but maybe not nearly as hard to find a good one than the head coaching position.

FlexUM

January 30th, 2024 at 8:01 AM ^

Controversial Take....

S&C coaches are not as hard to replace as you think. It's all about how the coaches all fit together and then the S&C coach (as long as they are decent) intensifies that culture. 

Mike Barwis was smart, a leader, and damn good at his job. They were not good under him. Urban Meyer had a strength coach that was literally a moron...I mean this guy was a walking turd and he did great. 

I've been working in sports med/ortho but around major college sports so long I don't know really how to explain it. I'm not saying Herbert is just easily replaced but what I am saying is it's the nature of the job that a lot of S&C coaches are great and get a bad rap. Hell herbert was here to start 2018 and it really wasn't until 2021 until we saw how great he was but the catalyst was harbaugh driving the culture change and that amplified what herbert was doing. 

I know of some S&C coaches at horrendous teams that if you put them at UM you'd think they were ben herbert. On the other side there are dudes that can barely walk and chew gum at major winning programs and people think they are great. 

 

Make no mistake, Herbert IS one of the good ones. But it all comes down to SM. Lot of pressure on him to keep this ship afloat.