Michigan has made a major change to its coaching staff in the middle of a tough season, as head coach Kyle Whittingham announced on Sunday evening that he was firing offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
In a statement released by the program, Whittingham explained why he made the decision:
“The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense,” Whittingham said. “We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible
position to be successful.
“We appreciate the hard work and effort that Jason has dedicated to the program. Jason is a great man and coach, and unfortunately, it did not work out the way that we wanted it to at Michigan. We wish Jason and his family nothing but the best in the future.”
Offensive line coach Jim Harding will serve as interim offensive coordinator for the rest of the season, and Whittingham will conduct a national search for the next offensive coordinator for the Wolverines.
The firing comes one day after Michigan’s 15-6 brutal loss to Michigan State, its first loss to the Spartans since 2021. The Wolverines finished with a season-low 192 total yards, turned the ball over four times and went 2-of-10 on third down. Freshman quarterback Tommy Carr was also sacked five times, while the run game averaged 2.1 yards per carry on 26 attempts. The pass game produced just 138 yards.
After the game, Whittingham said the team took “three steps back” and that he was “as disappointed and frustrated as I’ve ever been as a head coach.” He also acknowledged “some serious issues” and said the loss “falls on me.”
Michigan’s offense has struggled all season. Before Saturday, it ranked among the bottom of the country in yards per game, and the passing attack was one of the least productive nationally. Now after the game, those offensive stats are:
- Total offense: No. 132 (out of 138)
- Scoring offense: No. 126
- Rushing offense: No. 109
- Passing offense: No. 125
- Total number of first downs: No. 124
- Red zone offense: No. 129
The Wolverines also made a quarterback change in the middle of the season, replacing Bryce Underwood with freshman Tommy Carr at halftime against Penn State. That move paid off in that game, but the offense has still be flat since then, for the most part.
Whittingham has said he is confident the program will be fixed. “I promise you, we’ll eventually get this thing right,” he said after the Michigan State game on Saturday. Firing his own offensive coordinator who he brought with him from Utah is the first major step in that effort.
