Michigan to lose strength coach Ben Herbert to Los Angeles
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore will be starting his tenure with some big shoes to fill on his staff. Strength coach Ben Herbert will be leaving to join Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles, per multiple sources, after indications Friday and over the weekend he’d likely be staying.
There’s no sugar coating this loss and its potential impact. The news did not resonate well, per sources at a morning lift (sources last night told us the 6 a.m. lift was “unusual,” and usually reserved for weekends, indicating something might be up). And with the portal open, several players will likely be courted by other schools.
Herbert is considered one of the best strength coaches in the country by many experts. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh even tried to nominate him for the Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
“To me, Ben Herbert … X-factor in our entire football program,” Harbaugh said about Herbert in 2022. “The level of conditioning, the level of strength, the lesson of mental toughness. That’s been the center of it.”
Michigan color commentator Jon Jansen was among those who’d heard Herbert was planning to stay barring something unforeseen. He called it the “biggest piece.”
“Very,” Moore said when asked if he was encouraged in his ability to keep Ben Herbert. “You know, we’ll take it a day at a time and see what happens with the staff. But definitely excited. I have talked to him. I’m going to try to get it done as fast as possible. So … getting to work. Ben … getting to work, got to work last night, get to work today and throughout the day, and as we go on the recruiting trail, that will be a top priority. We’ll get it done as fast as possible.”
“It’s the biggest piece,” Jansen said, confirming Saturday he’d heard positive news. “He’s the guy who spends the most time with the players. He’s like Mike Gittleson was to us (under Lloyd Carr). He’s the one who gets to work with them during the summer … it’s everything.”
Sources at the meeting said there were many tears shed, both Herbert and players. Assistant strength coach Justin Tress appears to be the man in charge now — whether that’s permanent or temporary has yet to be confirmed.
Watch for more on this development in the hours to come.
