Michigan football expected to hire Chris Partridge to assistant coaching staff
Michigan Wolverines football head coach Jim Harbaugh has made a second move with his assistant coaching staff this offseason. He appears set to add Chris Partridge back to the staff, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz, after replacing co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss with new quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell late last month. This is will be the second stint at Michigan for Partridge, who was also with the program from 2015-19 before departing for Ole Miss.
Michigan currently has 10 assistant coaches on staff — right at the limit — but this move indicates that one coach will depart or there will be some shuffling. Nothing to that effect has been announced yet, however.
The Wolverines’ defensive staff currently includes Jesse Minter (coordinator), Steve Clinkscale (co-coordinator / defensive backs), Mike Elston (recruiting coordinator / defensive line), George Helow (linebackers) and Jay Harbaugh (special teams coordinator / safeties).
RELATED
• Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy named a top 10 returning quarterback nationally for 2023
• Michigan football: Three early enrollees to keep a close eye on
Partridge, who’s known as an ace recruiter, spent three seasons with the Rebels, serving as the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Harbaugh hired Partridge as Michigan’s director of player personnel ahead of the 2015 season, after the staffer was the head coach of renowned Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, home of former U-M defenders Jabrill Peppers and Rashan Gary. He was promoted to special teams coordinator and linebackers coach in 2016, serving in that role for two seasons, before switching to safeties from 2018-19 and still leading the special teams unit.
While coaching Michigan’s linebackers, Partridge helped Peppers finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist and be named a consensus All-American in 2016. In 2017, middle linebacker Devin Bush was a second-team All-American.
Michigan’s defense finished first or second in the country in seven categories, including total defense, scoring defense, tackles for loss, first downs allowed and third-down conversion percentage allowed. The Wolverines led the Big Ten in eight defensive categories, and all 11 starters on defense earned All-Big Ten accolades. Michigan was second nationally in both total defense and passing defense in 2018, and was inside the top 10 in the nation in four defensive categories — total defense, passing yards allowed, first down defense and team defensive passing efficiency — in 2019.
Ole Miss’ defense weren’t among the nation’s elite while Partridge was on staff, but the group did improve during his tenure. The Rebels ranked 117th nationally in scoring defense in 2020, before slotting 57th the following season. They were the fourth-most improved defense in the country, allowing 13.6 less points compared to the prior season. Ole Miss was 57th nationally in scoring defense in 2022.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin shook up his defensive staff following the 2022 campaign, bringing in Alabama coordinator Pete Golding to lead the defense. That left Partridge and fellow co-coordinator Maurice Crum without jobs.
Chris Partridge coaching career
| Year(s) | School | Position |
| 2020-22 | Ole Miss | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties |
| 2018-19 | Michigan | Special Teams/Safeties |
| 2016-17 | Michigan | Special Teams/Linebackers |
| 2015 | Michigan | Director of Player Personnel |
| 2010-14 | Paramus Catholic HS | Head Coach |
| 2006-07 | The Citadel | Defensive Line |
| 2005 | Lafayette | Secondary |
