Michigan fired offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell on Tuesday after a 7-5 season that saw the Wolverines slip to No. 128 in the FBS in total offense and No. 130 in passing offense.
Campbell just finished his first season as Michigan’s playcaller and quarterbacks coach. He coached Michigan’s quarterbacks last season during the Wolverines’ run to the national championship and was promoted to offensive coordinator when Sherrone Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
“After a thorough assessment of our offense, I made the decision to relieve Kirk Campbell of his duties and move in a different direction,” Moore said in a statement. “This was a decision that I felt was in the best interest of our football program. I want to thank Kirk for his hard work and dedication to the university, Michigan Football and our student-athletes. I wish him well in his future coaching endeavors.”
Michigan’s quarterback woes were a season-long storyline, though Davis Warren eventually stabilized the position and helped Michigan end the regular season with an upset of Ohio State. Warren began the season as Michigan’s starter but lost the job to Alex Orji, who was replaced by Jack Tuttle. Warren started the final five games after Tuttle announced his retirement. All told, Michigan’s quarterbacks threw 12 interceptions and averaged 5.5 yards per pass attempt, the second-fewest in the FBS ahead of only New Mexico State.
The opportunity to coach five-star prospect Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 player in the 2025 recruiting class, will make Michigan’s offensive coordinator job a coveted position. Carter Smith and Brady Hart, quarterbacks recruited by Campbell, decommitted from Michigan after the Wolverines intensified their pursuit of Underwood, who is set to sign with the Wolverines when the December signing period opens Wednesday.
Moore refrained from questioning Campbell’s playcalling as the season progressed but didn’t offer a strong endorsement, either. Even in Saturday’s upset of Ohio State, Michigan had two interceptions and threw for just 62 yards.
“There might be people that want us to perform at a high level as much as coach Campbell, but there’s nobody that wants that more than him,” tight ends coach Steve Casula said earlier this month. “We very much aren’t a finger-pointing operation. We’re all responsible for how we perform on offense as offensive coaches.”
Casula will serve as Michigan’s interim offensive coordinator as the program searches for Campbell’s replacement, Moore said.
(Photo: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
