Michigan fires offensive coordinator Jason Beck after second look at game film
Head coach Kyle Whittingham replaced Beck with Jim Harding, citing a drop in production during the 15-6 loss to Michigan State.
By Aiko Petrov ·
Michigan replaced offensive coordinator Jason Beck on Monday, naming offensive line coach Jim Harding as the interim successor. Head coach Kyle Whittingham announced the change following the Wolverines' 15-6 defeat to Michigan State on Sunday. Whittingham stated that he initially planned to wait until the end of the season to evaluate Beck's performance. However, a second review of the game footage led him to conclude that an immediate adjustment was necessary. He cited a specific regression in offensive output during that contest as the primary driver for the decision.
The firing concludes a short tenure for Beck, who arrived in Ann Arbor on one of the most lucrative contracts in recent college football history for an offensive coordinator. The three-year deal was valued at $9.15 million, supplemented by a $1.74 million signing bonus. Michigan also guaranteed Beck $3.1 million in retention bonuses. If the contract reaches its full term, the university will pay Beck $14 million for nine games of work, less any earnings from his subsequent employment.
Beck's departure comes after a difficult stretch for the offense. Michigan scored fewer than 20 points in six of Beck's nine games as coordinator. The team topped 30 points only once, in a 52-17 victory over UTEP. In the final game against Michigan State, the Wolverines recorded 192 total yards. Seventy-five of those yards came on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive after the outcome was effectively decided.
Whittingham said the decision was made independently, without outside pressure. He described the process as difficult but necessary for the program's long-term health. Beck had previously led a successful one-year turnaround at Utah. His system emphasized pre-snap motions, unusual formations, gadget plays, and the quarterback running game. At Michigan, he relied on returning personnel, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall, and wide receiver Andrew Marsh, alongside transfer wide receiver JJ Buchanan.
The returning players struggled to fit into Beck's scheme. Underwood threw five touchdowns and six interceptions before losing the starting job to freshman Tommy Carr. Whittingham said the team will reassess the quarterback position this week before facing Oregon. Marshall, who ran for 932 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry last season, has rushed for 323 yards at a 3.7 yard average this year. He had just two carries for four yards against Michigan State.
Critics of the offense pointed to an overreliance on a sixth offensive lineman, a role fans called the rhino, and a lack of a downhill running game. Whittingham echoed these concerns. He also questioned specific play calls, including a roll-out pass near the goal line in a low-scoring loss to Indiana that cost the team a potential touchdown. He acknowledged that the staff had not adapted the system sufficiently to the strengths of the current roster.
Whittingham said the staff would not make wholesale changes under Harding. Harding served as Utah's co-offensive coordinator alongside Whittingham in 2015 and 2016. The coach expects a few new wrinkles to be added to the playbook but rejected the idea of a complete overhaul. He noted that major structural changes at this stage of the season would be too disruptive.
The Wolverines, now 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big Ten, must win one of their final three games to secure a bowl berth. Their remaining schedule includes road games at Oregon and UCLA, and a home game against Ohio State. Whittingham said the team will continue to build around the existing personnel while implementing minor adjustments under the interim coordinator.
