The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 67 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL played at Tiffin University (Ohio) when Campbell was an assistant there. He spent the 2021 season as a quality con- trol specialist at the University of Colo- rado, where he assisted former Michi- gan analyst Kyle DeVan, who was the program's offensive line coach. — Chris Balas CHRIS PARTRIDGE REPLACES GEORGE HELOW AS LINEBACKERS COACH Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made a change to his defensive coaching staff, as well, announcing that former U-M as- sistant Chris Partridge would return to Ann Arbor. Partridge started his collegiate career at Michigan as director of player personnel, and coached safeties, line- backers and special teams at U-M during the 2016-19 seasons. He left in 2020 and spent three seasons at Ole Miss, where he was co-defensive coordinator and safe- ties coach, and remained an outstanding recruiter, just as he was at U-M. Partridge was also heavily involved in the Wolverines' special teams before he left, coordinating them and sharing that duty with Jay Harbaugh. He's expected to have a hand in that phase of the game again, as well. Michi- gan's special teams have been elite for most of Jim Harbaugh's tenure. Partridge replaced linebackers coach George Helow, who is pursuing other op- portunities. "Chris has been a trusted agent, known friend and ally since we started working together in 2015," Harbaugh said in a release. "He is a phenomenal teacher and coach and will be a major asset to our team, pro- gram and university community. We are so excited to have Chris, his wife, Marissa, and daughters, Mia and Gianna, back in Ann Arbor and part of the Michigan Foot- ball family." Partridge, who was coaching safeties at Michigan when he left, helped lead a defensive unit that ranked among the nation's best during his first stint on the U-M staff. The Wolverines were first or second nationally in pass defense in each of his four seasons and helped make the defense one of the stoutest third-down units in the country over that span. "My family and I could not be more ex- cited to be back in Ann Arbor," Partridge said. "Michigan has always remained a huge part of us. I appreciate Coach Har- baugh for having continued trust and faith in me to help him with the championship brand of football he has established. "I look forward to working with the staff to recruit, mentor and coach the in- credible young men that make Michigan the best football program on and off the field in the world! Go Blue!" Helow, meanwhile, gave a heartfelt goodbye to Wolverines fans. "Thank you Coach Harbaugh, Warde Manuel, the coaching staff and admin- istration. I want to especially thank the players who made coming to work every day special!" he said on social media. "You are truly amazing young men. We accomplished great things together, making the CFP twice and winning back- to-back Big Ten titles. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Michigan. "These past two seasons have been an honor and an amazing experience, but it is time to explore new opportunities in my career. Thanks to everyone who supports Michigan. God bless and Go Blue!" — Chris Balas MAIZE AND BLUE SPRING GAME SET FOR APRIL 1 Michigan was set to begin its spring football session early again this year — Monday, Feb. 20, to be exact — with a pause in between before the annual spring football game slated for April 1. The Wol- verines announced the scrimmage date in a "save the date" tweet that read, "See you all back at the Big House on April 1 for our Spring Game!" Last year, for the first time in a while, the Wolverines did a full-on scrimmage open to the public. It's expected they'll follow the same script in 2023, though quarterbacks will be off limits and sev- eral of the returning starters either will be limited or won't play. One of them — All-America senior running back Blake Corum — is still re- covering from knee surgery stemming from an injury suffered against Illinois. He had his meniscus repaired before the Michigan College Football Playoff game with TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, but he will likely be held out of all spring activities. Corum, however, is expected to make a full recovery by the time fall camp starts. — Chris Balas 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Location Apr. 1 SPRING GAME Ann Arbor Sept. 2 EAST CAROLINA Ann Arbor Sept. 9 UNLV Ann Arbor Sept. 16 BOWLING GREEN Ann Arbor Sept. 23 RUTGERS Ann Arbor Sept. 30 at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. Oct. 7 at Minnesota Minneapolis Oct. 14 INDIANA Ann Arbor Oct. 21 at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. Oct. 28 Bye — Nov. 4 PURDUE Ann Arbor Nov. 11 at Penn State University Park, Pa. Nov. 18 at Maryland College Park, Md. Nov. 25 OHIO STATE Ann Arbor Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship Indianapolis Chris Partridge was named as the new linebackers coach after serving as co-defensive coor- dinator at Ole Miss for the past three seasons. It is a return to Michigan for Partridge, who previously spent four seasons (2016-19) on Jim Harbaugh's staff. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM