Michigan fires Campbell after one season as OC

Michigan fired offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell on Tuesday, ending his three-year tenure with the team and his first as playcaller.

Campbell oversaw an offense that had slipped to 112th nationally in scoring and 129th in passing this fall, while using three different starting quarterbacks. He served as Michigan’s quarterbacks coach in 2022, mentoring eventual first-round NFL draft pick J.J. McCarthy when the team won its first national championship since 1997.

When Michigan promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach, Moore promoted Campbell to the coordinator role.

“This was a decision that I felt was in the best interest of our football program,” Moore said in a statement. “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.”

Tight ends coach Steve Casula will serve as interim offensive coordinator. Michigan, which upset archrival Ohio State to finish the regular season 7-5, will learn its bowl assignment and opponent this weekend.

Campbell was offensive coordinator at Old Dominion in 2020 and 2021 before joining Michigan’s staff as an offensive analyst in 2022.

After McCarthy entered the NFL draft, Michigan turned to Davis Warren, a former walk-on quarterback, to open the season as the starter. Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle also started games at quarterback before Michigan went back to Warren.

The offense will be replacing top running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards and will lose top wide receiver Tyler Morris to the transfer portal. Junior tight end Colston Loveland, who leads Michigan in receptions (56), receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (5), is a top NFL prospect and could elect to enter the draft in 2025.

Michigan recently gained a commitment from quarterback Bryce Underwood, ESPN’s top overall recruit in the 2025 class.