Potential Co-OC/QB Coach Candidates?

Submitted by MaizeBlueA2 on January 21st, 2023 at 8:47 AM

WARNING: This list is NOT based on any type of "insider" information.  Multiple sites (On3, 247, etc.) have floated names, I don't have subscriptions to all of them to ensure I've included the names that they've mentioned.  This is simply a random message board poster closing his eyes and trying to think about stuff that makes even a little bit of sense - I'm also trying to be somewhat realistic. I'm not talking about what type of offense they run, because we're clearly not going to drastically change the offense...it's about who fits what we do.

I've been building this list for the last two days, but feel free to list names that are missing!  Yes, it's long, I know "this should be a Diary," but no one reads diaries.  Last, these are not posted in any particular order, but I have sorted them into categories.

Here we go (I've linked wiki pages because they are consistent in format, I'm not cannot vouch for the accuracy)...

 

FIRED COACHES

Greg Roman (50): Obviously the most common name, he's been rumored to Michigan before and he's the first name that comes up simply because he falls into 3 of these 4 buckets.  The biggest issue with Roman is that he doesn't have a ton of experience as a QB coach.  There were also rumors the first time his name was floated that he's not that big into recruiting...which, people also said about Matt Weiss.  The fit is the obvious connection (Harbaugh, Ravens, etc.) and the fact that Jim Harbaugh could basically be the QB coach if he wanted to be.  With that said, the new Jim Harbaugh that is now a little more of a CEO (e.g., Saban and Swinney, but not nearly as much as either of those two) is the one that has had the most success.  Roman's name always comes up with Harbaugh, but he only has 2 (!) years of college coaching experience and it was 13 (!) years ago!  That said, he was a Broyles Award finalist and Harbaugh obviously took him to SF, where they had a ton of success and made it to the Super Bowl.  If Harbaugh has the Super Bowl itch, maybe Roman gives him comfort (joke).  RBs love Roman's offense, mobile QBs are a fan, WRs hate it.  If he came to Michigan, you could expect more of the same (run heavy, a lot of complaining about giving touches to the WRs).

Brandon Streeter (46): Former Clemson coach, was a rising star until he took the reigns on his own.  Admittedly, a lot of it was not his fault.  His predecessors were handed generational QBs (Watson, Lawrence, even Boyd was great).  He basically got 2020 Joe Milton.  Streeter is a A level recruiter, and a true QB coach.  With Michigan's passing game in need of some tweaking, it could make sense to look outside to integrate new ideas and concepts.

Paul Chryst (57): He's a fired coach, and there is a Harbaugh connection because Chryst was like the only coach in the B1G that Harbaugh actually likes and gets along with.  Chryst's background is a little interesting because he's a LONG TIME OC/QB coach, but his offenses are never dynamic and he loves to run the ball.  He also doesn't really develop QBs at the level you would expect.  Chryst actually feels like an great hire if Harbaugh left for the NFL and Moore was promoted to HC (due to his obvious HC experience).  The value here would be purely experience and Harbaugh being comfortable with him.

Mike Sanford (40): A hot name years ago, Sanford reached too quickly to be a HC, flamed out, and hasn't really recovered.  Still considered a great offensive mind, and still young enough to be a candidate for any OC job (age only mentioned because he doesn't have enough "stink" to be completely untouchable like a 50 or 60 year old OC would presumably have - re: Drevno, Borges, Chow, etc.)  Most recently at Colorado, where he was fired because the HC got fired.  He was named interim HC where he went 1-6 to close the 2022 season and Deion Sanders did not retain him.  Sanford has been all over, never really staying anywhere for more than a couple years, but one of his early stops?  Stanford (with a 't').  He arrived right after Harbaugh left to coach with David Shaw and Shaw promoted him every year he was in Palo Alto.  Sanford overlapped with Luck, but he was only coaching RBs at the time.  He does have B1G experience, coaching under Fleck at Minnesota in 2020 and 2021.

 

RAVENS TREE

Tee Martin (44): If Harbaugh goes back to big bro, Tee Martin is a great name to at least consider.  The Former Tennessee QB is coaching WRs for the Ravens, and he's split QBs and WRs for most of his career - mainly with the WRs.  The biggest advantage to Martin (besides the Ravens connection and NFL experience) is that he has a ton of collegiate experience for an NFL coach and he was an A+ recruiter.  Of all of the names mentioned, it is doubtful that any would recruit better than Martin (especially in SEC territory).  Martin was on Kiffin's staff a USC and recruited so well that he was retained when Sark took over.  Sarkisian elevated him to PGC before he got fired and Martin survived again, this time under Clay Helton.  Clearly he adds value in some way (likely recruiting).  Now he's got some Ravens in his blood and John Harbaugh on the resume...he may be the ideal candidate for Jim to bring to Ann Arbor.  You could also probably bring him in as QB/PGC and elevate Hart to co-OC, if needed to keep everyone happy and justify the pay bumps.

 

JIM HARBAUGH TIES

David Shaw (50): Also a fired coach, so he hits two buckets.  But he's only on this list because of the Jim Harbaugh connection - without that, no shot, because he could go be a HC if he really wanted to be a HC.  Or do TV for a year and then get back into coaching during the next cycle.  If he takes an OC job, it would likely be in the NFL.  Shaw likes the MANBALL, but without a generational QB in Andrew Luck his passing game has been, *excuse my language*..."boo boo."  Shaw has recently interviewed for the Broncos HC job, so this seems the most far-fetched and isn't worth much more thought.  Also, his Wiki page was edited to say he coaches the Ravens, he doesn't - at least not today.

Tavita Pritchard (35): A much more realistic "Stanford guy," clearly Harbaugh has been in contact with Shaw because he keeps raiding their former program.  Pritchard has connections to both of them, playing QB for Stanford in the Harbaugh/Shaw HC/OC days (his first start was the famous 41-point underdog game, with the win over USC).  Harbaugh brought him on to coach immediately after he graduated and he's never left Stanford, he was retained by the new coach, but demoted to just being the QB coach. He was most recently the OC at Stanford, which, eek.  Screams west coast Iowa.  Born in Tacoma, WA, he's the definition of a "west coast guy."

Willie Taggart (46): Everyone knows the connection here, Harbaugh recruited him to WKU, he played for Jack Harbaugh, Jim was the best man in his wedding, basically a brother.  Harbaugh hired him at Stanford before Willie left to go be the head coach at WKU.  Taggart feels like a much better candidate to replace Biff Poggi than he does Matt Weiss (assuming he has the ability to be an intermediary and "stand up" to Jim like Biff did).  He doesn't have a ton of OC experience and hasn't coached QBs directly since 2006 (it's probably safe to assume that as a former QB, like Jim, he's involved with the QBs even as a HC).  There are rumors about Deion bringing him to Colorado to be an analyst, but nothing has been confirmed (to the best of my knowledge)...if that's the case, Jim, get him to Ann Arbor to be an analyst!  Which could be the case if...(see Kirk Campbell).

Jimmie Dougherty (44): Remember him?  Also someone who falls in multiple buckets, but again, he's in the Harbaugh list because if Jim wasn't at Michigan, he probably wouldn't be a candidate to come back to Michigan (where he "coached" as an analyst in 2016).  Dougherty is a QB coach/Passing Game Coordinator/Offensive Coordinator...it's what he does.  There's obviously familiarity and a natural fit.  Harbaugh hired him going all the way back to their San Diego days.  Of all of the names mentioned on this list, Dougherty may be the #1 coach in "guy who's offensive number actually matter."  Because he's done it for so long and it's almost always the same job.  

 

MICHIGAN CONNECTION

Brian Griese (47): *deep inhale*, *LeBron voice*, "MICHIGAN MEN!! ...THIS IS FOR YOU!!!"  You all know who he is, but some don't know that he's not just an alum who is still around the game (most notably in broadcasting), he's currently the QB coach for the 49ers and have you seen Brock Purdy?  Probably more about Kyle Shannahan, but still...  That said, he's got one year of coaching experience and it isn't in college.  This is all about a bright mind around the program, who is a "Michigan Man" (and went 3-0 versus OSU), and would bring a ton of fresh ideas.  But would he recruit?  

Nick Sheridan (34): Reunited with Michigan, reunited with Mike Hart, reunited with "home" (Sheridan is from Saline).  Another connection?  Willie Taggart gave him his first job in college football (at WKU) and took him to USF, he has to know Harbaugh.  As a coach, opinions on Sheridan are mixed, but he's young - a trend we've been working at Michigan with the ACs, he's a "Michigan Man", and he's got experience (in and outside of the B1G).  No feathers would be ruffled.  That said, he's only really been an OC once (2020 and 2021 at IU), so Moore would presumably take the lead there.  He's coached QBs and TEs.  Fun fact: a 'Sheridan' has been mentioned in every (non-Rich Rod) coaching search at Michigan since 1986.

Kirk Campbell (36?): Last on the list, but maybe a front runner?  Currently an analyst with OC experience (ODU) that Harbaugh raves about.  He also loves to promote from within and feels like it keeps the existing culture (eventually it'll bite you in the butt to always go "in house", but this probably wouldn't be the "reach" that ends things).  Does he know the offense inside and out?  That's really the only question, because everyone is looking at this 2023 team as a national championship team...it would be easy to see Campbell (who is also obviously a 'Jim Harbaugh Tie') as the Jesse Minter on offense, come in, don't change anything, let's keep this thing going.  He was also interim QB coach at PSU after being an analyst there.  Shared because Weiss was considered an X's and O's film rat and Campbell has been an analyst at the college level for at least 4 years.  However, that could mean a number of things, does he just love film, game planning, and analyzing?  Does he have terrible people skills, and that's why the big brain hasn't developed into a big time OC job?  None of the above?  Who knows...

 

TL;DR? Yeah, me neither...I'm not going back to proofread through all of that, I'll just apologize for spelling and grammatical errors.  Hopefully it's not too bad...

MGoBoard
Football

Blueisgood

January 21st, 2023 at 10:35 AM ^

Do not understand the Mike Hart love fest around here. I think he's a decent coach, but I don't think he's co-oc worthy. He hasn't been coaching some scrubs. He's got upper 4 star guys, behind one of the best O-lines the last two years. Plus, his recruiting hasn't been impressive. Going by on field success, Jay would be in line for the promotion before Hart in my opinion. And this isn't me saying Jay for co-oc. Its more of, lets get someone better then Mike Hart in the role.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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bronxblue

January 21st, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^

I'd also add that Nick Sheridan and him didn't really cover themselves in glory as co-OCs at IU either.

It's always felt like Hart and Jaybaugh get opposite reactions from this fanbase than their actual performances warrant because one has been viewed as a nepo baby and the other this unassailable legend.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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bighouseinmate

January 21st, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^

While I think hart to co oc is premature at this point, I don’t agree that his players haven’t had great on field success while he’s been at Michigan. While they’ve all had talent, you have to credit hart with teaching them. DEs vision and patience improved greatly this past year, as did corum’s the previous year. And while the line play has been excellent the past two years, you see what a running back gifted with some talent can accomplish learning under hart for a couple of years vs just a rb with talent (stokes). We’ll see this next season, with another very good to excellent o line, whether hart’s actual coaching has been the difference if stokes starts really showing promise or not.

Joined: 12/19/2008

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bronxblue

January 21st, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^

Not that I think Shaw would come to UM but he threw the ball over 450 times this year; that's more than Maryland, Alabama, and Tennessee, for example.  He turned his offense over this year and made it much closer to the Wake Forest model so I wouldn't mind looking at that tree as well.

Joined: 11/22/2008

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MEZman

January 21st, 2023 at 11:17 AM ^

So I know he's never done it before but do you make Sherrone full OC and QB coach so he has less on his plate (recruiting and position-wise)? Then move Newsome over to OL and find another TE coach.

Also, since Jaybaugh is a monster in recruiting... him as QB coach? Man, it might be worth it just to set RCMB and MSU-Twitter on fire.

Interested in Streeter, were the issues with DJ U due to DJ U or due to coaching? He already has a relationship with our top QB recruit for 2024.

Joined: 12/13/2008

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OuldSod

January 21st, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^

I'd consider moving Newsome to OL and Moore to solo OC but also to TE. TE do a lot of combined line drills with the OL and I think you want Moore to do some hands on line coaching. Would still need a QB coach and passing game coordinator either from outside or by promoting an analyst. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

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MEZman

January 21st, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^

If you're the full OC do you want to be coaching TEs or the guy who is most important to your success and who touches the ball on every play? If they're still splitting OC roles then sure but if I'm Sherrone I'm pushing for QB coach duties if I'm the sole OC.

Edit: I should say I mean if it's not someone he already knows like Campbell. If it's someone Sherrone knows and trusts with the QBs then it might work out fine.

Joined: 12/13/2008

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matt1114

January 21st, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^

Streeter is an interesting choice in my opinion. Has been at Clemson for like 8 years as a QB coach and was the recruiting coordinator from 2015-2019. Widely considered a top name until this past year. 

I think this is honestly a really important hire. This is someone who has to develop JJ, and hopefuly land Davis and Underwood as QB recruits

Joined: 01/08/2021

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Ajcoss

January 21st, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^

Tee Martin interesting. Didn’t know he was with John at Ravens. Fits bill as a great recruiter. Jimmie Dougherty has done some good things. Similar concepts to Fisch, as they are together at Arizona. I would love some of those passing concepts come back that we had the first couple years under Harbaugh. Arizona moved from 100+ in passing to 4th in Fisch/Dougherty first year. He was WR coach to start with Harbaugh. Brandon Streeter I think would be home run if we went outside the program/no ties to Harbaugh. He was solid at Clemson for years and a really good recruiter. A crazy throw in the dark name that’s a big name would be Dan Mullen. He did great things on O with Florida. Likely not best choice though as he would want lots of control and makes Moore take back seat. Doubt Griese is realistic. Recruiting is not something all dudes wanna do. He seems to have a good gig at SF.

I am not sure I want CP back. Rather use this open spot on a true O/QB guy and not him for D and likely move Jay back to O. Think this hire is big to get some new passing concepts and recruit some top skilled positions on O.

Joined: 01/04/2017

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LabattsBleu

January 21st, 2023 at 11:37 AM ^

appreciate the in depth analysis!

I mean Roman seems like the obvious choice, but it was my understanding that he didn't like recruiting? Sadly, it has probably gotten harder to recruit with NIL rather than easier, as a segment of parents will want to talk about $$$ as much as the school/coacning/culture.

I agree that promoting Campbell internally might be the right play for QB coach

Also what could happen with the Campbell move to QB coach is Moore to full time OC and Newsome to OL (or splitting with Moore)/

<edit previously suggested in the thread> I know this next one is a huge pipe dream, but I wonder if Brady would be interested in becoming a coach? Normally I would not speculate on this, but with his competitive streak, his contract ending in TB and his unfortunate personal situation with Giselle, he really can do whatever he wants to...He's competitive as hell and I don't think he's going to be satisfied in the broadcast booth. Brady wouldn't have to recruit if he didn't want to.

I give it a 2% chance of happening, but fun to speculate.

Joined: 10/06/2012

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mexwolv

January 21st, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^

Very good list except maybe Taggart, I dislike what he did as the HC for other programs and seems to have been a poor fit everywhere he´s been after Oregon.  I think the former Clemson coach could be a great Hire.

Joined: 09/06/2014

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Ajcoss

January 21st, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^

Pipe dream, but speaking of basketball, think Jay Wright wants to get back in coaching? If so, give the dude a blank check and ask him what it will take. Likely not realistic, but would be the best hire possible. Hear him calling this Ku/Tcu game now, made me think he didn’t entirely get out of it. 

Joined: 01/04/2017

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Booted Blue in PA

January 21st, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^

we have a Co/OC and lost the other Co/OC... .i think we already have our OC.... we need a QB coach.  Brian Griese would be a great hire for QB coach, if he were willing to move from NFL to NCAA for the same position.

 

 

Joined: 12/18/2018

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bluenectarine

January 21st, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^

I think Jay is the best hire here. Let me explain. We all know he’s a great and versatile coach. Tremendous recruiter. I’m sure he’s up on all the new age passing concepts and running QB things. But my main reason is that his dad will ACTUALLY LISTEN to him! JH will “let him go”…. Otherwise it seems like the hire will do what Jim wants on offense, which isn’t necessarily bad but is that enough to get a National championship?

Joined: 06/29/2012

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CaliforniaNobody

January 21st, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^

I think Roman has a good mind for football, specifically the running game. My issue with it would be he does not have a good mind for the passing game, and our current OC already seems to be more running oriented, and the running game doesn't exactly need much help. And secondly I'm not sure how a guy who has been out of college so long would be as a recruiter, which is what I want the new coach to bring first and foremost if he can't be some QB savant. 

Joined: 12/18/2014

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blueandmaizeballs

January 21st, 2023 at 12:47 PM ^

Maybe 1 guy on this list other then that don't see much on here.  We need a younger guy who knows how to recruit and knows the game and can develop QBs.   Weiss according to David father was a bad recruiter.  Plus JJ and Cade are the only QBs who have done anything at Michigan who were recruited by Michigan 

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BKBlue94

January 21st, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^

I appreciate the list, but I don't understand the premise that we want another co-oc. Seems like it'd be best to have one person in charge. If Moore is the rising star he seems to be, that's him and we need a QB coach/passing game coordinator - which it seems like a few of these guys fit. Especially Streeter given that he just got fired as an OC. Also, even if we did have co-ocs, it can't be Hart joining Moore, they're both run game guys.

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mackbru

January 21st, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^

This. It’s amazing how because we briefly had co-OCs, which is a fairly atypical arrangement, people somehow think we need co-OCs in perpetuity. Most teams just have the one OC and seem to do fine. Michigan also has a HC who is known to dabble in offense. We don’t need 2 coordinators. It will be Moore, period. 

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stephenrjking

January 21st, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^

A significant portion of Michigan's offense is pulled directly from Greg Roman's playbook, so he would be a strong "consistency" hire that changes basically nothing... not a bad idea when you have a lot of guys coming back that are already growing in the offense.

But I don't think he's the choice. Harbaugh has been talking up Moore as a HC candidate and seems ready to get the chief OC role and the chatter from certain folks certainly seems to back that up. You don't promote over him to get a one-year guy that's going somewhere else. 

That also means that Griese, who sounds like he would be a great choice based on the chatter (and production) coming out of SF, isn't a likely option, either. He's a Michigan man, but he's also an NFL guy succeeding at that level, and if he keeps up like this he is probably coaching his way into coordinator consideration somewhere soon, especially since he's working under Kyle Shanahan. QB coach at Michigan is more of a lateral move, and not very long-term. I would love the move if they made it, but I just don't know if it makes sense for the two parties.

I'm on board with giving Moore a title bump and hiring someone that Harbaugh likes that knows the air game and QBs. I'd like someone that doesn't need to learn a bunch of new stuff to do it. Edit: Campbell would be fine under this. I like the idea of Tee Martin, depending on how involved in passing game work he is. 

I don't think anyone coming in is going to revolutionize what Michigan will do, but if someone can bring along a couple of ideas and be able to prompt continued growth in JJ, that would be great.

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Killer Khakis

January 21st, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^

First, awesome post and you deserve all the upvotes. I never thought of Martin but dang that'd be a good hire! I expect Campbell to be promoted from within, but if we reach outside the program, Martin would be awesome! 

Joined: 12/03/2015

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bighouseinmate

January 21st, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^

I think the smart move is to upgrade Moore to full time OC and hire someone for a qb/passing game coordinator role. That person would hopefully have an excellent mind when it comes not only to qb coaching, but also devising and implementing an improved passing game with complementary routes that constantly puts the opponent in conflict on coverages leading to more open guys on any one passing play. Kinda an obvious desire or wish at this point considering what Michigan has coming back talent wise. 
 

Having said that, Martin is the most obvious one who could do all of that. Griese might be the next choice, assuming he’s an innovator on the passing game and not just an excellent coach of qbs to whatever passing game is present currently. The name that REALLY intrigues me is Devin Gardner in that role. If you truly listen to his breakdowns on the mmqb show with Sam, he has an excellent eye for the entire play and often details where not just the qb might’ve messed up, but where the wrs or te should’ve been, or where a different route might’ve opened things up more. If he wanted to go that route I think he’d end up being a great coach when all is said and done.

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