Michigan names ex-Penn State football staffer as offensive coordinator

A changing of the guard in Ann Arbor has helped a former Penn State football staffer take control of the national championship-winning offense. On Friday, Michigan football elevated QBs coach Kirk Campbell to the role of offensive coordinator. The move comes a week after Sherrone Moore took over as the Wolverines’ head coach following Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers. Campbell has spent a half-decade under the James Franklin coaching tree both in Happy Valley and on Ricky Rahne’s staff at Old Dominion. 

Michigan football names former Nittany Lions analyst Kirk Campbell as offensive coordinator

Sherrone Moore and Michigan football have decided to keep its offensive coordinator hire internal, promoting assistant coach Kirk Campbell to the position on Friday afternoon. Campbell is coming off his second season with the Wolverines, serving as QBs coach in 2023 and as an analyst in 2022.

Familiar faces in elevated roles

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— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) February 2, 2024

Kirk Campbell is a face that is quite familiar to Penn State football. Campbell joined James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in 2017. Penn State went a combined 31-8 during Campbell’s three years with the program, including wins in the Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl. 

Campbell then followed Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne to Old Dominion in an on-field role, spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons as offensive coordinator and QBs coach. Kirk Campbell is a Pennsylvania native, originally from Pittsburgh and a graduate of West Allegheny High School. 

Familiar faces on the sidelines for Penn State football

Although Penn State football won’t play Michigan again until 2026, there are plenty of familiar faces besides Kirk Campbell that the Nittany Lions will see on the sidelines in 2024. 

On October 5, a pair of former Penn State football players will be welcomed back to Beaver Stadium as part of the UCLA staff. The Bruins added former Nittany Lion DB D’Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator and QB Billy Fessler as QBs coach this offseason. 

James Franklin’s predecessor in the Lasch Building will also be on the opposing sidelines this fall. Ex-Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien was hired by Ohio State as its offensive coordinator last month. The Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes face off on November 2 in Happy Valley.

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