Michigan Apparently Hires Biff Poggi After All
Former Gilman (MD) head coach Biff Poggi seemed to be moving on to another high school head coaching gig after an odd parting of the ways from his long-time post, but Sam Webb reported last night that Michigan had found a role for him after all:
Biff Poggi has been brought on as the assistant head coach in charge of special projects.
Poggi is of course the father of Henry; Michigan recruited Stephen Spanellis from Gilman last year and had Devery Hamilton committed for a while until a sudden Stanford flip.
Poggi may just be passing through; in January he told the Baltimore Sun he had a job offer from Michigan but that his staff would be relocating to St. Frances and that Poggi would likely return to high school coaching in the future:
Turner said someone from the Gilman staff would be the head coach in the fall. He also said he expects Poggi to return to Baltimore to take over the program at some point.
FWIW, Gilman has QB Kasim Hill in the 2017 class. He has a Michigan offer and is considering M, but there are a couple of obvious complicating factors in Brandon Peters and Dylan McCaffrey. No doubt MSU fans will fly off the handle about this anyway.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:25 PM ^
seemed like I saw Biff recruiting guys from Gilman to his new HS gig not long ago
February 24th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^
Anybody home, McFly?
February 24th, 2016 at 12:31 PM ^
All the great HS coaches belong to us! But seriously, love how Harbaugh is bringing in these good coaches that can also get us inroads with top recruits. Does anyone know if this has been done so heavily at any other school?
February 24th, 2016 at 12:33 PM ^
Has the SEC chimed in yet?
February 24th, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
Not yet, but they will soon. I mean, we have to think about the impact on the kids, right?
Fuuuuggggg...
February 24th, 2016 at 5:31 PM ^
What will their complaint be this time? "Over-hiring"???
February 24th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
Biff couldn't look more like a Southern HS football coach in that picture. Love it.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^
Someone who'd smash up your car if you meet a stranger in the Alps.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 12:35 PM ^
Now everything makes total sense.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:40 PM ^
February 25th, 2016 at 9:25 AM ^
BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH BIFF?
Harbaugh is setting up the 2017 SOTS and now-- has Huey Lewis AND Biff in the Green Room....
February 24th, 2016 at 12:35 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 12:36 PM ^
Hiring him now makes it impossible for the Poggis to go on Spring Break.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
Using all of Michigan's resources, which includes a substantinal amount of funds compared to other schools, to maximum advantage within the rules.
I love it.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:39 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:47 PM ^
What makes us think they have not already....long ago???
February 24th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
I find his resemblane to Buddy Garrity heartening.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:46 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 12:48 PM ^
Any chance Devery hasn't signed his LOI???
February 24th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^
looks like a cross between Brady Hoke and Charlie Weiss.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^
Well fantastic, you just gave him the kiss of death.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^
Glad we added John Goodman to the staff.
February 24th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:03 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^
All of that may be true. But, he also may want to work a UM to be closer to his son during his remaining time as a UM player. Then, when Henry is done, Biff can go back to Baltimore (if that is what he wants) or move up the ladder, as you say.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
Originally, I thought he was taking this post to take the next step on the career ladder, but that part of the article made me wonder if he had some kind of non-compete.
Weird, but glad to have him for however long we have him.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:00 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
Someone will imply that Michigan is offering staff positions to family / friends / coaches of coveted recruit X in order to secure his commitment.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
Supposedly also really high on PSU, but with the direction that program is heading and how likely a coaching change is there, that really opens the door for MSU (they are also a somewhat likely landing spot for the QB currently committed to PSU)
Edit: I think "J." is interpreting the comment correctly actually, but no doubt MSU fans may brag about a recruiting win in such a scenario too. Guess it can work both ways.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
Coach (cough!) Curtis (cough!) Blackwell (cough!)
February 24th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
We're clearly funneling money to him in return for having Hamilton committed for a time.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
Make like a tree and get the heck outta here.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
Excellent point, his staee bio is here:
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/curtis_blackwell_859824…
February 24th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^
job than DB coach. Nothing said about DB's. This is a special projects job what ever that entails. It seem JH is interviewing Aubrey Pleasant and Chip Viney for the DB job.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^
battleship.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
We could have done the "Hoke Poggi" dance in celebration.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:12 PM ^
February 24th, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
If you'd like to get to know who Biff Poggi is and what he's all about, please read the book Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx. Highly recommended. As a youth coach, this was one of the most influential reads I ever came across. I'm sure you can find it on Amazon.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 24th, 2016 at 3:58 PM ^
I've been able to obtain the official job description from the posting made just minutes before the hire was announced. I'm really not supposed to share this, but here goes:
Assistant Football Coach - Special Projects
Responsibilities*
- Design and develop football recruiting and coaching approaches and techniques to simultaneously maximize student athletes' potential and irritate the everliving shit out of rival football programs, both within and outside of the Big Ten Conference.
- Serve as a resource for identifying optimal satellite camp locations to bring gospel of Michigan football to other states and regions of the states of the U.S., Canada, Samoa and Australia.
- Identify coaches to publicly invite to speak at or appear at Michigan football camp events, including those who will be irritated by such inviations.
- Stoke the Jim Harbaugh madness/genius stove periodically, but ensure that all special projects comply with the letter of NCAA guidelines.
- Build a really cool treehouse.
Required Qualifications*
- Head football coaching experience at a major high school program or assistant coaching in major NCAA program.
- Integrity and enthusiasm - a lot of enthusiasm.
- Good Hygiene.
Desired Qualifications*
- Supply own visor and mirrored glasses.
- Look like a cross between Big Lebowski era John Goodman and a shaved grizzly bear.
- Own coffee maker.
Comments