Four Offensive Coordinator Candidates for Michigan to Consider

Michigan has started looking for its next offensive coordinator after firing Jason Beck on Sunday, a day after the Wolverines fell 15-6 to Michigan State. Beck’s tenure lasted nine games. Head coach Kyle Whittingham appointed offensive line coach Jim Harding to lead the offense on an interim basis for the season’s remaining three games and said the university would conduct a national search.

Four potential candidates are Chip Kelly of Northwestern, Marcus Arroyo of Arizona State, Aaron Roderick of BYU and Dean Kennedy of UCLA. Kelly has experience as a head coach at Oregon and UCLA and as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. Northwestern ranks 38th nationally in total offense, averaging 190 rushing yards and 231 passing yards per game.

Arroyo has worked under Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham since 2024. The Sun Devils rank 67th in total offense this season, after finishing 30th in 2025 and 28th in 2024. Injuries to the team’s quarterbacks have been a challenge, while Arizona State’s rushing attack has also slipped from its prior rankings.

Roderick previously coached under Whittingham at Utah from 2005 to 2016 and has been BYU’s offensive coordinator since 2021. Kennedy arrived at UCLA with head coach Bob Chesney from James Madison. UCLA ranks 14th in rushing offense, and Kennedy has experience in the Big Ten. Whittingham’s future at Michigan is uncertain; Kennedy could be a candidate whether he stays or the Wolverines pursue a new head coach.