Michigan made a major change to its coaching staff in the midst of a difficult season, as head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Sunday night that he was firing offensive coordinator Jason Beck.
In a statement released by the program, Whittingham explained why he made this decision:
“The results were not what we expected and I felt a change in leadership was needed for our offense,” Whittingham said. “We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible position to succeed.
“We appreciate the hard work and effort Jason has put into the program. Jason is a great man and coach, and unfortunately it didn’t work out the way we wanted at Michigan. We wish Jason and his family the best for the future.”
Offensive line coach Jim Harding will serve as interim offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season, and Whittingham will conduct a national search for the Wolverines’ next offensive coordinator.
The shooting comes a day after Michigan’s brutal 15-6 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 running game averaged 2.1 yards per carry on 26 attempts. The passing game produced only 138 yards.
After the game, Whittingham said the team had taken “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 last in the nation in yards per game, and the passing attack was one of the least productive nationally. Now, after the game, these offensive stats are:
The Wolverines also made a quarterback change midway through the season, replacing Bryce Underwood with freshman Tommy Carr at halftime against Penn State. That decision paid off in this game, but the offense has remained steady since then, for the most part.
Whittingham said he is confident the program will be fixed. “I promise you, we’ll get it done in the end,” he said after the game against Michigan State on Saturday. Firing his own offensive coordinator who he brought with him from Utah is the first major step in that effort.
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