Kyle Whittingham fires offensive coordinator Jason Beck in record $10.1M deal
The Wolverines' first-year head coach dismissed his offensive coordinator after a 15-6 loss to Michigan State, triggering one of the largest contract offsets in college football.
By Grace Almasi ·
The University of Michigan terminated offensive coordinator Jason Beck on Sunday, ending his tenure with the Wolverines after a 15-6 defeat by Michigan State. The dismissal follows a stretch in which the offense failed to generate consistent scoring output under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Beck, who joined Whittingham's staff from the University of Utah, faces a financial windfall upon his departure. His contract stipulates a total payout of up to $10.1 million. This sum includes approximately $7 million in base salary and $3.1 million in retention bonuses. While the agreement allows for offset and mitigation against future earnings, the figure is believed to be the largest buyout ever recorded for a college football assistant.
The decision comes after the Wolverines managed to score more than 20 points in only one of their first nine games. The team exceeded 28 points just once this season. Saturday's game at Michigan Stadium saw Michigan go without a score for 58 minutes. It marked the first time in 30 years that the Wolverines lost a game without allowing a touchdown to the opponent.
Whittingham cited the need for a leadership change to align results with team goals. "The results have not matched our desired outcome, and I felt that a change in leadership was required for our offense," Whittingham stated. He expressed gratitude for Beck's effort but noted that the arrangement did not yield the expected success for the program.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding will assume interim duties for the remainder of the season. Whittingham plans to conduct a national search for a permanent replacement. The Wolverines currently average 19.6 points per game and 5 yards per play.
The coaching change follows a period of internal tension and performance fluctuations. Quarterback Tommy Carr, who replaced Bryce Underwood in October, threw for 138 yards and two interceptions in the loss to Michigan State. Previously, tight end Zack Marshall apologized for leaked group text messages that criticized the offensive scheme. Michigan had briefly found success with a 28-21 victory at Rutgers on Oct. 31.
The Wolverines travel to No. 23 Oregon this week. They will conclude the regular season with home games against No. 8 UCLA and No. 12 Ohio State.
