assistant coaches

*glass shatters* [Patrick Barron]

Chris Partridge got shook loose from his job as DC at Ole Miss and people started doing the eyebrows thing and pointing suggestively and saying things like "hey, you know, what if?" And lo, Rivals is reporting:

There is as of yet little clarity on how exactly Michigan is going to shoehorn him onto the staff, but Henschke has said that neither coordinator is getting bumped (Steve Clinkscale has a co-DC title). George Helow coaches linebackers, which is also Partridge's specialty, and would seem to be under threat. He might make it, though: in the past Michigan has used "spackle some Jay on it" as method of moving guys around. We'll see how everything shakes out.

In Partridge's first go-around at Michigan he was known as a top-tier recruiter, which was the major reason Lane Kiffin picked him off when he went to Oxford. Partridge's tenure as DC didn't go very well—Ole Miss was 50th in the SP+ defensive rankings this season—but if he's coming to be a recruiting coordinator sort of position coach that's a win. We even have a picture of him that looks like he's making a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble as the announcer screams "OH MY GOD THAT'S CHRIS PARTRIDGE'S MUSIC." That's gotta mean something. 

There is no content after the jump.

We don't have a photo yet of Campbell so here's JJ going Yay! [Patrick Barron]

Matt Weiss's computer crimes opened an interesting spot on Michigan's coaching staff. It got even more interesting because that created an OC opening for what should be the most loaded offense in college football. And it got doubly interesting because Harbaugh's coaching tree is extensive enough that several very interesting names, including Ravens OC Greg Roman and former assistant/recruiting ace Chris Partridge, recently became available. Michigan also had the option of shopping around football for elite coaches: Hey, wanna coach JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum and Roman Wilson and the best OL in the country for a few years?

All of that now can be interpreted as a stunning endorsement of the internal candidate they elevated instead.

It's expected that co-OC Sherrone Moore will assume the title outright, though it's a Jim Harbaugh program so he'll still be quite involved.

Via Sam Webb on our WTKA show, Biff Poggi had interest in taking Kirk Campbell with him to Charlotte this offseason. It's at least plausible that Harbaugh promised an on-field coaching position if Campbell stuck around, or it may just be that Campbell sensed the opportunity. Insiders also report that JJ McCarthy in particular was 100% on board with elevating Coach Campbell.

[After THE JUMP: A little analysis]

Couple of coaching title updates now that it’s official: Steve Clinkscale has been made co-DC. Mike Hart is the running game coordinator. Elston is the recruiting coordinator.

Things discussed:

  • Harbaugh makes good hires; looking internal was smart.
  • New OC team: Gattis grew before our eyes, can they stay as organized as they were last year?
  • Gattis: Hard to understand why he felt the way he did after the contract negotiation: Harbaugh was going to name him the guy, the regents were behind it, the other assistants were told that Gattis was the internal hire if that was the direction they went, and Harbaugh went out on a limb for Gattis in 2019 and paid a price to let him grow on the job.
  • All those rumors are absolute BS. He was never pulled off the recruiting trail, never had any off-field incidents. He is emotional and that seems to work both for and against him.
  • Coordinating is more about building the options that week than calling the plays on Saturday.
  • Moving Bellamy/Jay: Both guys are head coaches and filling out their resumes. Both great recruiters. Bellamy a more natural receivers coach, and Minter is a safeties guy so Harbaugh’s not being thrown in the deep end.
  • Minter: Vandy defensive stats don’t matter—seems he was a Plan A guy that Macdonald wanted, and a guy who loves speed. Seth: Going to see Michigan dip deeper into the Ravens playbook because they have more speed in the secondary. Have to recreate pressure with different looks instead of having Aidan run through guys.
  • Co-DCs: Not necessarily the same as the co-OCs but they’ll probably break up specific duties in scouting and game-planning—playcalling is a small thing in comparison, especially on D.
  • Elston as recruiting coordinator: Good pick and has to move on Dante Moore.
  • Harbaugh is building quite a coaching tree.
  • Hoops: Got shooting vs Purdue, don’t have any answer for Ivey. Painter is going to have an answer for the pressure. Probably can’t play Jace 20 minutes. Beat their defense, make your shots.
  • Penn State: Zone worked against them.
[Hit the JUMP for the player, and video and stuff]

ouch.

Lock him up.

Honestly the Cheez-It guy is as likely as some of these candidates.

You'll never guess with MGoBlog contributor can jump.

BlueChip Illustrated’s #14 linebacker, and the #37 player in the Midwest to Superprep.

Young man going West.

Fist pump away. This was Michigan’s first choice when they lost Linguist, and you could make the case he should have been the top choice all along.

Some names for CB coach.

Jumpin' Joe, what are you doing here? I jumped!