“The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense,” Kyle Whittingham said in a statement released Sunday afternoon.
Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck on Nov. 8, 2026, just a day after the Wolverines suffered a 15-6 defeat against in-state rival Michigan State in Ann Arbor, according to The New York Times. Whittingham brought Beck over from Utah and made him the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the country at $3 million per year, securing him with a three-year contract worth $9.15 million plus a $1.74 million signing bonus.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding will step in as the interim offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season, ESPN reported. Whittingham admitted that neither Harding nor the remaining offensive assistants possess extensive experience with play-calling.
The financial fallout from the firing is staggering. CBS Sports reported that the Wolverines could owe Beck up to $10.2 million to buy out his contract, which includes nearly $7 million in salary and retention bonuses, and it is believed to be the biggest buyout ever for a college assistant.
The partnership between Beck and five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood never clicked. Michigan benched Underwood in favor of freshman Tommy Carr, but the offense never really got going, however, and ranked near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Wolverines currently rank No. 132 in the FBS in total offense, averaging just 19.6 points per game and 5 yards per play. As ESPN noted, the unit was shut out for more than 58 minutes against Michigan State and has failed to break the 20-point threshold in six of its nine games this season.
Whittingham stated that he is searching for a proven replacement from the Midwest or with regional ties for next season, while confirming he will not take over play-calling duties himself. The 5-4 Wolverines face a daunting stretch ahead, traveling to play at No. 23 Oregon before closing out the regular season against No. 8 UCLA and No. 12 Ohio State.
