Michigan football is bringing back a familiar figure to its coaching staff.
The Wolverines announced that Biff Poggi would rejoin the program as associate head coach, reuniting with the team after two years as Charlotte’s head coach.
Poggi, who previously served in the same role under Jim Harbaugh in 2021 and 2022, expressed his excitement about his return.
“I am thrilled to officially be back in Ann Arbor!! This will always be my Football Home,” Poggi stated. “So thankful for [Sherrone] Moore, Warde Manuel and Doug Gnodtke, all old friends.
“Sometimes you don’t know what a special place this is until you have been somewhere else. #GOBLUE. A special thanks to my son Henry, who was a great player here and introduced our family to OUR SCHOOL.”
Harbaugh, who left Michigan to coach the Los Angeles Chargers, once called Poggi a “trusted agent and known friend” when he departed for Charlotte.
“Biff’s a great mentor and has been that for me,” Harbaugh told The Athletic in 2022. “He likes to scheme it up, and he knows how to coach and helps coach the coaches.
“As far as helping me personally, there’s not too many decisions that I make that I don’t run by Biff and we talk it out.”
Poggi’s tenure at Charlotte was short-lived. He compiled a 6-16 record over two seasons before being let go late in 2024.
However, his impact at Michigan was highly regarded, especially by former Wolverines defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach.
“He doesn’t sugarcoat sh*t, and you learn to appreciate that about him,” Macdonald told The Athletic.
“He knows what buttons to push. He knew when to gas me up to give me confidence, and he knew when to sit me down to give me advice. He just knows. It’s like, ‘Damn, this guy is the Godfather.'”
Under Sherrone Moore, who took over as Michigan’s head coach following Harbaugh’s departure, the Wolverines finished 8-5 in 2024.
While they weren’t able to replicate their 2023 national championship success, they ended the season on a high note, defeating Ohio State and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
By bringing Poggi back into the fold, Moore is leaning on a seasoned voice with deep ties to the program – one who has already earned the trust of Michigan’s leadership.
What are your thoughts on Michigan bringing Poggi back on the staff???
