Michigan fires offensive coordinator Jason Beck in $10 million debacle

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Kyle Whittingham has made his first major move as Michigan’s coach, firing embattled offensive coordinator Jason Beck.“The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense,” Whittingham said in a statement Sunday night.

“We need to put our offensive players and the entire team in the best possible position to be successful.”Whittingham named Jim Harding as interim offensive coordinator for the rest of the season.Harding is the team’s offensive line coach and assistant head coach.

He worked with Whittingham for 12 seasons at Utah, including two years as co-offensive coordinator.Beck is still owed $7 million on his contract plus another $3.1 million in retention bonuses, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who added that “it’s believed to be the biggest buyout for a college assistant.”The Wolverines (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) started the season ranked No.16 in the AP Top 25 and have fallen short of expectations with one of the nation’s worst offenses, shaky special teams and a defense that has been solid at times.Michigan might fall short of earning a bowl bid as underdogs at No.

18 Oregon (6-3, 3-2) on Saturday, at home against No.4 UCLA and against rival and 21st-ranked Ohio State on the road.The Wolverines barely avoided being shut out for the first time since 2014 against rival Michigan State, scoring with 1:35 left in a 15-6 loss after being favored to win by two touchdowns.Michigan has been held scoreless in the first half three times in a season for the first time since 1979.Under Beck, the Wolverines were ranked No.

132 out of 138 FBS teams in total offense, No.126 in scoring, No.

125 in passing offense and No.109 in rushing offense.Beck was Whittingham’s offensive coordinator at Utah last season, helping the team rank No.

2 in rushing, No.4 in total offense and No.

5 in scoring offense.He was New Mexico’s offensive coordinator in 2024.“We appreciate t...