Quick reference of years hired and ages of current UM Football coaches

Submitted by BlowGoo on October 3rd, 2021 at 12:52 AM

Great decision by Harbaugh to clean coaching house, especially past offseason. Can be a brutally difficult one to make. I think we've all heard that we have one of the youngest coaching staffs in Div1, but I couldn't find the ages cleanly laid out. So 20 minutes later, I put this together. Ages could be off by a year, depending on actual birthdate. But you get the idea.

Summary of ages and years hired, for reference.

https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/28/football-coaches.aspx

OC/WRs, Josh Gattis 37yo: 2019 hire

DC, Mike MacDonald 34yo: 2021

Safeties, Ron Bellamy 40yo: 2021

DBs, Steve Clinkscale 43yo: 2021

TEs/SpecialTeams, Jay Harbaugh 32yo: 2015

RBs, Mike Hart 35yo: 2021

LBs, George Helo 34yo: 2021

OL/coOC, Sherrone Moore 35yo: 2018 TEs -> 2021 OL/coOC

DL, Shaun Nua 40yo: 2019

QBs, Matt Weiss 38yo: 2021

Strength&Conditioning, Ben Herbert 42yo: 2018 hire and an intense, intense photo on the official UM coaches page.

https://mgoblue.com/staff-directory/ben-herbert/3710

rob f

October 3rd, 2021 at 1:08 AM ^

Nice compilation. 

Yes, it's definitely a much younger staff than any I've ever seen at Michigan, with ages ranging from Jay at age 32 to the ancient Steve Clinkscale (43).

UMForLife

October 3rd, 2021 at 6:39 AM ^

Nice. Is this the first big gig for some of these coaches? I can't keep it straight. The sheer willingness of Harbaugh to make that kind of change speaks volume. This recent change is already paying off.

Sambojangles

October 3rd, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^

This is helpful and interesting. Jim Harbaugh is 57, so significantly older than anyone else on staff. I assume there are analysts and staffers that are closer, but it really seems like an "old guy and kids" type of environment. Early returns are that it seems to be working better. I wonder if there is any similar case across college football? Seems like when the head coach is experienced, they usually have another experienced coach along with them - someone like Mattison, or Don Brown, who is super-experienced but not a head coach for whatever reason.

MaizeBlueA2

October 3rd, 2021 at 10:37 PM ^

I long thought we needed a youth movement. Love this new energy and direction, Jim is too old to be the hardest working, grinding, high energy guy.

And he damn sure can't surround himself with a bunch of older guys who don't have the same energy. You have to be diverse in race, but age and general background are important as well.