Michigan Wolverines’ 2026 Coaching Staff Begins to Take Shape

The Michigan Wolverines have officially started building Kyle Whittingham’s first full coaching staff as head coach. Several appointments have already been made, with some holdovers from the previous coaching staff, but several positions are still open. Whittingham has brought in several coaches from his time at Utah, relying on his coordinators to fill out the rest of the team. This new staff will play a crucial role in guiding the Wolverines through the transfer portal cycle.

Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham

Kyle Whittingham, the 22nd head coach in Michigan history, joins the program after a successful tenure at Utah. He led the Utes to 177-88 overall record, including three conference championships. In 2008, he was named AFCA Coach of the Year and earned Bear Bryant Award recognition after a 13-0 season. Whittingham also won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award in 2019 and received Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and 2021. His impressive resume has earned him respect across the college football landscape.

Offensive Coordinator: Jason Beck

Jason Beck, the offensive coordinator, is following Whittingham from Utah. Under his leadership, the Utes ranked second in FBS in rushing offense, fourth in total offense, and fifth in scoring offense this season. Utah also finished third in the NCAA in third down conversions and first downs, while having the 12th-best red zone offense. The program had five players earn All-Big 12 honors, including All-American and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Spencer Fano. Overall, the Utes were one of only nine teams in the country to average over 200 yards on the ground and through the air this season.

Defensive Coordinator: Jay Hill

Jay Hill, the defensive coordinator, comes to Michigan after spending the 2025 season with the BYU Cougars. His defense helped the team reach the Big 12 title game, finishing fifth in red zone defense, seventh in interceptions, tenth in defensive TDs, 14th in turnovers, 19th in third down defense, 21st in scoring defense, and 25th in pass efficiency defense. Hill brings experience as a head coach, having gone 68-39 with four Big Sky Championships as the head coach for Weber State from 2014 to 2022.

Special Teams Coordinator: Kerry Coombs

Kerry Coombs is one of three confirmed holdovers from Sherrone Moore’s staff. He will remain as special teams coordinator after being hired just days before Moore was fired. Coombs previously served as special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Cincinnati from 2022 to 2024. Before that, he had two separate stints at Ohio State, where he was the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021 under Ryan Day and coached cornerbacks and coordinated special teams from 2012 to 2017 under Urban Meyer.

Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach: Jim Harding

Jim Harding, another coach following Whittingham from Utah, has developed some of the nation’s top offensive linemen during his 12 seasons with the Utes. Players like Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Garett Bolles, Jeremiah Poutasi, Jordan Agasiva, Jackson Barton, Darrin Paulo, J.J. Dielman Braeden Daniels, and Sataoa Laumea have all been recognized for their performances.

Quarterbacks Coach: Koy Detmer Jr.

Koy Detmer Jr., who will follow Whittingham from Utah, served as an analyst working primarily with the quarterbacks. This season, quarterback Devon Dampier finished 35th in passing efficiency, throwing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns while also adding another 835 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Running Backs Coach: Tony Alford

Tony Alford, another remainder from Michigan’s 2025 coaching staff, will remain in place after guiding the most productive piece of the Wolverines’ offense this season. In 2025, running backs Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall combined for 1,789 yards and 20 touchdowns together on the ground as the most impactful running back tandem in college football. Alford, a dynamic recruiter, also brought in the nation’s No.1 running back in the 2026 class in Savion Hiter.

Wide Receivers Coach: Micah Simon

Micah Simon, known as a rising star in the coaching industry, will also follow Whittingham from Utah. A standout BYU wide receiver in the mid-2010s, Simon has followed offensive coordinator Jason Beck from Syracuse to New Mexico and Utah, coaching wide receivers at every stop.

Tight Ends Coach: Freddie Whittingham

Freddie Whittingham, the brother of head coach Kyle Whittingham, is one of the top tight ends coaches in the country. He has developed standouts like Dalton Kincaid, Brant Kuithe, Dallen Bentley, Cole Fotheringham, Thomas Yassmin, and Caleb Lohner. Whittingham was named the FootballScoop Tight Ends Coach of the Year in 2022.

Defensive Line Coaches: Lou Esposito & Lewis Powell

Lou Esposito is the last holdover from Michigan’s previous staff to be announced. While we aren’t sure how the split will officially go here, the belief is that Esposito will serve as defensive tackles coach, while Powell, another coach from Utah, will coach defensive ends. Esposito has played a key role in Michigan developing Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, Rayshaun Benny, Derrick Moore, and TJ Guy in his two years with the Wolverines. Powell, meanwhile, has coached Jonah Elliss, Bradlee Anae, and John Henry Daley in his tenure with the Utes.

Linebackers Coach: Alex Whittingham

Alex Whittingham, the son of head coach Kyle Whittingham, has held several different roles while spending the last eight seasons working with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has coached every position room under Steve Spagnuolo, working as an assistant and quality control coach. He worked with the Chiefs linebackers from 2020 to 2023, guiding Nick Bolton, Leo Chenal and Drue Tranquill to tremendous seasons that played key roles in the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

Cornerbacks Coach/Defensive Passing Game Coordinator: Jernaro Gilford

Jernaro Gilford is the first BYU coach to follow Jay Hill to Ann Arbor. He served as the Cougars’ cornerbacks coach from 2016 onward. While he doesn’t boast a deep track record of NFL development, his cornerbacks are frequently productive, including Jakob Robinson, who finished his career second in BYU history with 11 interceptions.

Assistant Wide Receivers Coach: Marques Hagans

Marques Hagans spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons coaching wide receivers for the Penn State Nittany Lions, but was not retained by new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell. Hagans worked alongside offensive coordinator Jason Beck at Virginia, coaching players like Olamide Zacchaeus, Canaan Severin, Keeon Johnson, Joe Reed Keytaon Thompson and Dontayvion Wicks with the Cavaliers.

We will update this story as more coaches are announced.