Michigan confident in 'mastermind' offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell

Michigan Wolverines football has a new offensive coordinator entering the 2024 season, but it hasn’t been a big talking point this offseason. It’s because Kirk Campbell is making a natural progression, adding coordinator duties to his quarterbacks coach title with Sherrone Moore being promoted to head man.

Campbell has been a trusted agent of Moore’s ever since joining the staff as an analyst in 2022. In that role, he assisted with first- and second-down passes for the game planning, in addition to other duties. As co-offensive coordinator that year, Moore was reportedly in charge of first- and second-down play calling, so the two worked hand in hand.

Last season, Campbell wasn’t just promoted to quarterbacks coach but called offensive plays in the season opener against East Carolina, when Moore was suspended — a clue that he had already gained the faith of Moore and former head coach Jim Harbaugh to the point of becoming one of the top assistants on staff. He guided an offense that totaled 402 yards (280 passing with 3 touchdowns and 122 rushing with 1 score) in a 30-3 victory.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, under Campbell’s tutelage, became Michigan’s first-ever winner of the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award and was selected No. 10 overall in this past spring’s NFL Draft.

Moore and Michigan players have full trust in Campbell now that he’s the leader of the offense. As head coach, Moore will have his hand in all different aspects of the program, and he has confidence Campbell will design great game plans offensively.

“It’s been great,” Moore said of delegating responsibility to Campbell. “Kirk, I trust in and out. He’s done such an unbelievable job.”

Moore then lauded Campbell’s work ethic and meticulous attention to detail.

“We won a national title and go back in the offense and Kirk is in there yelling at the screen because somebody’s route wasn’t right,” the Michigan coach continued. “‘Dude, go home, we just won the natty, bro.’ That’s the type of guy he is.

“For me, it’s less and less difficult to delegate things when you have people like that around you, having [defensive coordinator] Wink [Martindale] and having [special teams coordinator] J.B. Brown,. Those guys are unbelievable. Tough, hard workers, and their number one goal is the team.”

Campbell has also impressed with his intelligence. Senior running back Donovan Edwards raved about him when joining The Wolverine Podcast this week.

“Oh, s—,” Edwards exclaimed when we brought up Campbell. “Kirk is a dawg! I rock with Kirk. I’m glad that he’s still here, I’m glad that he didn’t take another job or anything like that. He’s a mastermind. It’s really impressive to see what he does.

“So we were at practice one time. I’m BS’ing, ya feel me? I’m chilling. I’m not on the field, so I’m joking and stuff. I hear Kirk on one of our concepts, like, ‘That’s gonna be wide open.’ It’s wide open, the quarterback hits the play. I looked at Kirk, I’m like, ‘Dawg. You’re a dawg! You are crazy!’ I said, ‘Bro, respect to you, Kirk.’

“So I’m glad he’s our O.C., and I’m excited to see what he does for this upcoming year and to follow his career, as well.”

Michigan lost all but one starter from last year’s offense, with junior tight end Colston Loveland being the lone one to come back, but Campbell is excited about the weapons he has to work with. In his interview with The Wolverine this week, Campbell discussed getting “players the ball with their best attributes,” playing to their strengths.

“The main goal when we suit up on Saturday is you want that defense to fear us and feel us,” Campbell said.

Edwards and graduate running back Kalel Mullings are two key pieces to the puzzle. The Michigan senior said that he could handle a 25-carry-per-game workload but wants to see his teammates shine, as well. He knows there’s more talent in the room than just him.

“I think it could ultimately go down as probably one of the best running back backfields that the program has had,” Edwards said. “And that’s up to our hard work, that’s up to our preparation, but I truly believe that. I’m a confident person — you know that — and even if it doesn’t happen, I’m still gonna be confident.”

It’s up to Campbell and Co. to piece it all together.