Kirk Campbell promoted to Michigan quarterbacks coach

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t have to look far to land his next quarterbacks coach to replace Matt Weiss. He’s promoted analyst Kirk Campbell to the position.

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That likely means Michigan co-O.C. and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore will handle all the offensive coordinator duties this year.

“Kirk is a bright, young offensive mind that immediately meshed with our coaching staff last year,” Jim Harbaugh said in a statement. “Our offensive staff was really impressed with his knowledge and expertise of the entire offense, and he was integral to the success of the offense with game planning and opponent scouting. Kirk does an outstanding job developing relationships and I know he will have an outstanding rapport with our quarterbacks. We are excited to have Kirk and his wife, Lauren, as well as their daughter, Riley, continue as members of our Michigan Football family.”

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Robert McCollum Family Quarterback Coach at the University of Michigan,” Campbell said. “I enjoy my relationship with Coach Harbaugh and our staff, and I look forward to working with them as we develop, mentor and coach great players. My family and I love everything about this university and football program, especially the people that I get to work with daily. I look forward to helping Team 144 reach new heights in 2023. Today and every day it’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine. Go Blue!”

Campbell, who came to Michigan from Old Dominion, is considered one of the top young coaches in the country. He made On3.com’s list of “rising stars” in the profession last year, and he’ll now get his chance to prove he’s ready.

As previously reported, there were rumblings that he had the support of quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Davis Warren.

“In compiling the list, On3 gathered feedback from around the coaching world to identify top-up-and-comers in support staff roles who are setting themselves up for advancement,” On3’s Matt Zenitz wrote. “The support staffers who came up most and received the best overall feedback made our list.”

While he was brought in when former coordinator Josh Gattis was in charge of the offense (the two worked together at Penn State in 2017), Campbell contributed to an offense led by co-coordinators Moore and Weiss, along with run game coordinator Mike Hart. Gattis departed the Michigan program for Miami in February and was recently fired from the program.

Campbell has a background that involves working with quarterbacks and has been involved with Michigan’s efforts in recruiting signal-callers.

Campbell came to Michigan after spending the 2020 and 2021 campaigns as Old Dominion’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Last year, the Monarchs racked up 374.8 yards per game and scored 27.6 points per outing. 

Old Dominion finished the regular season by winning its final five games following a 1-6 start. During that stretch, Campbell’s offense averaged 36 points per tilt.

Before his time at Old Dominion, Campbell was an offensive analyst at Penn State (2017-19), where he assisted in quarterback meetings, scouted future opponents and was a part of game planning. During the Michigan staffer’s time in State College, the Nittany Lions won 31 games and went to two New Year’s Six Bowls.

Over those three seasons, Penn State averaged 36.8 points per game and all three offenses finished in the top 9 all-time at Penn State.  Campbell was the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Alderson Broaddus (W. Va.) for five years before his time at Penn State. Over five years, his offenses averaged 34.7 points per game and, in 2016, the program’s fourth season of football led the startup program to a 9-2 record.

Watch for more on this hire in the hours to come …