The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
42 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CHRIS BALAS C hip Lindsey takes over Michigan of- fensive coordinator duties this year, after a two-year stint at North Carolina, with 27 years of collegiate coaching ex- perience, including three as a head coach (Troy, 2019-21). The veteran play-caller has had success both in the pass and run games throughout his career, adapting his offenses to his personnel, and has proven to be a great fit with U-M's sec- ond-year head coach Sherrone Moore. Lindsey talked to us about his philoso- phy, history and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: You've gone on record saying you were actively pursuing the OC job at Michigan, and there was word your former quarterback at North Carolina, Drake Maye, even called Sherrone Moore on your behalf. What made this job so intriguing to you? Lindsey: "I grew up in the South but always admired this program. It's an honor to be here, because when you grow up where I did in the 1990s and late 1980s, you couldn't see every game — it wasn't but three or four on the week- end — and I just always remember seeing Michigan from afar. Whether it was the Rose Bowl, playing 'The Game' [versus Ohio State], whatever it was, I always had a lot of admiration for the program. "To me, this is probably the most iconic program in college football his- tory. It's just exciting to get the opportu- nity. Sometimes in this profession there are just certain jobs you really want or admire, and I wasn't going to leave any- thing to chance. I was going to let Sher- rone know, 'This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me.'" The Wolverine: All indications are you've been very well received by the coaches and the players, and they all speak highly of you. How has the expe- rience been for you in the first several months? Lindsey: "It's been great. I didn't know anybody here, including Sherrone. "In life, certain things happen that you can never predict, and maybe it's the right time for him and the right time for me … the right fit for each other. "I've been watching him the last few years when he was the coordinator at Michigan. We access film on everybody, and we're all stealing ideas. Some of the funky formations Sherrone was known for when he was calling plays, all those things — I stole a lot of ideas from him over the years. "I felt like it was a great fit, and this staff is great. I love the guys here. They're some of my best friends now in only six months. We're all in tune and locked and ready to go." The Wolverine: The passing game Coordinator Chip Lindsey Brings Experience And A Versatile Offense To Ann Arbor OFFENSE Q&A Lindsey brings 27 years of college coaching experience to his role as offensive coordinator for the Wolverines. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN