Summary of UM Coaching Changes
As the dust is starting to settle from all the changes that have taken place over the past number of weeks, I was thinking through what the current staff looks like compared to last year's. This is better visualized in a table format, but a list will do:
- 2021 Coaches
- Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
- OC: Josh Gattis
- QBs: Matt Weiss
- WRs: Josh Gattis
- RBs: Mike Hart
- OL: Sherrone Moore
- TEs: Jay Harbaugh
- DC: Mike Macdonald
- DL: Shaun Nua
- LBs: George Helow
- CBs: Steve Clinkscale
- Safeties: Ron Bellamy
- Special Teams: Jay Harbaugh
- 2022 Coaches
- Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh
- OC: Sherrone Moore/Matt Weiss
- QBs: Matt Weiss
- WRs: Ron Bellamy
- RBs: Mike Hart
- OL: Sherrone Moore
- TEs: Grant Newsome
- DC: Jesse Minter/Steve Clinkscale
- DL: Mike Elston
- LBs: George Helow
- CBs: Steve Clinkscale
- Safeties: Ron Bellamy
- Special Teams: Jay Harbaugh
One thing I'm not real clear on: what does the recruiting staff look like now? I see that Mike Elston is now the recruiting director, but I'm not sure what the roles look like with Courtney Morgan gone, Albery Karchnia in, and Elston's added role.
February 11th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
Yeah, I was surprised to say the least. Bellamy has gone above and beyond my expectations when we hired him as a coach, and has been phenomenal as a recruiter as well.
Will be an impact player for sure, can't guess how much since WR room is still pretty crowded (even with the rumor of Sainristil moving to defense).
February 10th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
Really excited about Grant's come back story and clearly the coaches see something in him. I am curious though, can you think of anyone who has been promoted to a Michigan assistant coach without any formal coaching experience? I know that sounds negative, but I have been thinking about some of the other coaches. Hart had to work his way up from Eastern Michigan and Bellamy as well as Chris Partridge built their careers in the high school scene. Curious if anyone can think of someone else. Also, just honest thoughts on the higher? Jim's got a good track record of hiring coaches, but does it make anyone nervous? Should a former player work his way up to the Michigan job? Just some shower thoughts I'm curious to hear from others about.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
I think Newsome's promotion from GA to position coach at UM is a reflection of just how highly he's thought of.
Plus, legend has it he was the de facto OL coach a couple of seasons ago when Ed Warinner apparently had better things to do than hands-on coaching.
February 10th, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
Can you elaborate on this? It’s funny how Warinner’s reputation seems to be changing now that he’s gone.
February 10th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
I'm glad to see good things are happening for Grant Newsome and kudos to JH for giving him the opportunity.
February 11th, 2022 at 3:53 PM ^
This would be the first time I've heard this legend about Warriner. Consider me highly sus.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
Jay Harbaugh was never an on-field coach until he followed daddy to Michigan. He's worked out just fine. I know there have been several others - Roy Roundtree with WRs several years back, among others. It's not totally unheard of, we just don't usually hear the news because they are so junior.
February 10th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
Well, I think others have pointed out that Michigan started following what Bama has done for a long time which is to have your analyst pool be evaluation pool for future assistants. Newsome must've been doing a really nice job for them to promote him out with no other experience
February 10th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
We might as well start conjecturing about what the coaching roster will be following the upcoming season.
February 10th, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
That staff looks pretty damn good to me honestly. We are in a much better spot than I thought we would be a couple weeks ago. I figured Macdonald was a rental and I suspect the offense will be better than ever next year.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:00 AM ^
Not 100% true, because Moore was a Co-OC in 2021 with Gattis.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:02 AM ^
seems like a solid group. I am happy that there won't be a substantial change to either the defensive or offensive systems...
Pretty happy overall
February 10th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
Looks like Aashon Larkins is still "Director of Recruiting" per his Twitter so there's some continuity there with the recruiting evaluation process and tracking mechanics that he updated last year. Good thing as some of the social events I was at last year with football staff made it sound like Larkins was really good at his job and improving the efficiency of the recruiting process for the coaching staff. He also was a key guy in setting up campus visits / making moms and pops feel comfortable.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
At a minimum the recruiting chops of this staff appears to be plus from last seasons.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:43 AM ^
I didnt see where Elston was assigned the recruiting director role? I believe he held that position at ND, so I can see him having that title at UM also.
February 10th, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
While I would have preferred MacDonald to stick around, Gattis leaving doesn't really move the needle for me. I think the staff looks pretty good as it is now that it's sorted out. I don't have any qualms about who's coaching what - completely satisfied with Newsome taking the TEs and Jaybaugh moving to Safeties.
The one worry I have is about Mike Hart - where is his head? Are the rumors about him being upset about JH's flirtatious ways true? Have those feels been assuaged? Were they even real? Is he happy with being the RB coach (still, only)? Convince me that Mike Hart is happy, and I'm happy!
February 10th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Unsure if this is a "title only" kinda thing, but I did see that Mike Hart is now the RB coach AND the "Run Game Coordinator," so...perhaps a slight (financially, it may have been much more than slight, unsure) bump there for Mike?
February 10th, 2022 at 12:35 PM ^
Mike Hart appeared in the open door of Harbaugh's office.
Harbaugh didn't look up. His gaze was fixed on a wide screen monitor showing split-screen footage of both Fritz Crisler's Mad Magicians and the Allied invasion of Normandy. Black and white reflections of young men charging towards immortality in two different realms flickered in parallel on Harbaugh's glasses.
"Jim."
Harbaugh said nothing. Through the computer's speakers, the thunder of Allied artillery roared across the carnage in a grim syncopation with the football announcer and cheering crowd a thousand miles away.
Hart pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Jim. We need to talk." Harbaugh remained transfixed on the grainy footage.
"About my future here" Still nothing
Oh, that's how it's gonna be? Hart thought. I guess this is how it's gotta be.
"Fine. I know we've had our differences, but we both agree this is a special place and I want it to love me back the way I love it. And this doesn't work if we don't have clear lines of communication. When you say it's not the end but a new beginning one month and the next month start interviewing with the goddamn Vikings, gotta be honest, it makes me wonder where I or any of us stand. And I ain't gonna lie, if this is it, you gotta let..."
"The flying wedge"
Hart was incredulous. "What?"
"It's a V-shaped offensive formation. All your strength is concentrated at the middle to break through a singular point in the enemy's lines, and the triangular deployment protects your flanks. It's a classic military tactic that has still remained popular even as warfare evolved from melee to ranged engagements. It's been banned in football because of the danger to the defenders." Harbaugh spat out the last sentence with palpable venom.
Hart nodded. "That formation is best deployed if you have the superior offensive force and the enemy doesn't have anywhere to retreat. In the early stages of a campaign, you want to use misdirection and feint tactics to get a better idea of the enemy's tendencies, like the feigned retreat of Mongol cavalry."
Harbaugh grudgingly nodded. He swiveled the monitor so Hart could see and poured him a glass of whole milk and the two men watched together in silence.
February 10th, 2022 at 12:37 PM ^
Not gonna lie, I'd read the entire book if you put one together.
February 10th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
I might help fund it.
February 10th, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
This has to be one of the best all-time responses buried in a thread. This needs to be a diary. Keep writing.
February 10th, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
If you set up a gofundme to keep this going I'd be all over it.
February 11th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
GOLD.
February 10th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
Our M footballers are going to have some great Coaching next season. Go Blue!
Now hit that recruiting trail hard!
February 10th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
Interesting that Moore is co-OC and now Hart has the Running Game Coordinator title. Seems like a logjam at the top because I sort of figured it would be Weiss as de facto OC / PGC, Moore as the RGC. Now it seems like you've got 3 guys (maybe 4) who have a hand in calling plays. Will be interesting to see how this goes
February 10th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
True but for better or worse that's the way Harbaugh likes it, I doubt we will ever see the day where he hands complete control to one guy. The closest we will probably ever get is when Gattis first came on, and even then people were arguing about who was really running the offense.
February 10th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
So, Helow is staying ? Good news, right ?
February 10th, 2022 at 2:26 PM ^
According to Eli Will (Raylen Wilson's coach) Helow staying is good for the UM Florida recruits/targets. (Paywalled 247 content)
February 10th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Are you joking or something? LBs were great last year.
February 10th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^
I had the same question about the recruiting staff. In the past we have had recruiting coordinators who were not part of the coaching staff, but that will be different this year, and I'm curious as to the decision making there.
Obviously, Elston has done it before, so that is good, and I assume that an acting coach can be more involved in actual recruiting than a non staff cooridinator, but I am not entirely sure on that as Courtney Morgan seemed to have sway with some recruits.
In any event, I think we have replaced the departing coaches about as well as we could have based on coaching ability and staff cohesion/continuity.
February 10th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
So Bellamy is going to be coaching the WRs and the Safeties? Dude's gonna have his hands full.