Michigan Fires OC Jason Beck, Faces Historic Buyout After Offensive Woes

WHO:

Newsweek - Michigan Wolverines offensive coordinator Jason Beck was fired.

Maize n Brew - Head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Beck’s firing and said he would conduct a national search for a new offensive coordinator.

Maize n Brew - Offensive line coach Jim Harding will serve as interim offensive coordinator for the rest of the season.

Yahoo Sports - Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Harding was expected to take over the interim role.

Yahoo Sports - Beck followed Whittingham from Utah to Michigan after serving one season as Utah’s offensive coordinator. Beck previously held offensive coordinator positions at Syracuse and New Mexico.

Yahoo Sports - Beck had 16 years of experience coaching quarterbacks.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan benched sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and replaced him with freshman Tommy Carr. Underwood completed 58% of his passes for 924 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions; Carr completed 67% for 641 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in five games.

WHAT:

CBS Sports - Michigan’s buyout obligation could reach $10.2 million, potentially making it the most expensive assistant-coach buyout ever; the amount is subject to offset mitigation.

CBS Sports - Beck’s contract paid him $2.8 million in the season he was fired and was set to pay more than $3 million in each of the next two seasons.

CBS Sports - Michigan was 5-4 when Beck was fired.

CBS Sports - In a 13-6 loss to Indiana, Michigan ran for 57 yards on 42 carries.

Newsweek - Michigan faced a historic buyout after firing Beck midseason.

Yahoo Sports - Beck had a reported annual salary of $3 million on a three-year contract. Michigan owed him $10.1 million for the remainder of the contract, subject to him not obtaining another coaching job, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Yahoo Sports - In nine games with Beck as coordinator, Michigan recorded 2,723 total yards, ranked No. 132 of 138 FBS teams in total offense, and averaged 19.6 points per game, the nation’s 13th-lowest figure.

Maize n Brew - In the loss to Michigan State, Michigan had 192 total yards, four turnovers, a 2-of-10 third-down conversion rate, and a 2.1-yard average on 26 rushing attempts. Carr was sacked five times; Michigan gained 138 passing yards.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan scored its only touchdown with 1:55 remaining in the game.

Maize n Brew - Michigan’s offensive rankings were No. 132 in total offense out of 138 teams, No. 126 in scoring, No. 109 in rushing, No. 125 in passing, No. 124 in first downs and No. 129 in red-zone offense.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan ranked No. 109 in rushing yards and averaged 128.7 rushing yards per game.

Yahoo Sports - Beck’s scheme was criticized for using a “Rhino” package with six offensive linemen and asking backs to run wide rather than emphasizing power runs between or off the tackles.

Maize n Brew - Underwood was replaced by Carr at halftime against Penn State; Maize n Brew said the move paid off in that game, though the offense remained largely flat afterward.

WHERE:

Newsweek - The firing involved Michigan’s football program.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan’s next three games were at Oregon, against UCLA and at Ohio State.

WHEN:

Newsweek - Beck was fired on Sunday, following Michigan’s loss on Saturday.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan State beat Michigan 15-6 in the game preceding Beck’s dismissal.

WHY:

Maize n Brew - After the Michigan State loss, Whittingham said the team took “three steps back,” that he was “as disappointed and frustrated as I’ve ever been as a head coach,” and that the loss “falls on me.”

Maize n Brew - Whittingham said: “The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense.”

Maize n Brew - Whittingham said Michigan needed to put its offensive players and the team “in the best possible position to be successful.”

Yahoo Sports - Before the firing, Whittingham said, “At some point, you've got to have results. It's a result-driven business, and it's a bottom line business.”

HOW:

CBS Sports - Sources told CBS Sports that Michigan had one of the nation’s most expensive rosters and had invested heavily in its offense; Beck was unable to fit the players into his preferred system.

CBS Sports - Sources said Michigan was searching for a new athletic director to replace Warde Manuel and wanted to select that leader before deciding Whittingham’s future; Whittingham could potentially leave after one season.

Maize n Brew - Whittingham said Beck was “a great man and coach,” thanked him for his work, and wished Beck and his family the best.

Yahoo Sports - Michigan said it would conduct a national search for Beck’s replacement.

Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck after its offense struggled in a loss to Michigan State. Coach Kyle Whittingham launched a national search, naming Jim Harding interim coordinator. Beck’s buyout could reach $10.2 million.