Pep Hamilton leaving Michigan, Ben McDaniels to take over at QBs coach

Pep Hamilton became the new scapegoat for the Michigan offense after Tim Drevno left last offseason and now fans have gotten their wish, as he will be leaving the program, according to The Michigan Insider’s Sam Webb.

Ben McDaniels will take over as the quarterbacks coach, answering the question as to how Michigan would work him into Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff in 2019. New offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will coach the wide receivers in addition to his duties as the primary playcaller.

Here’s what Webb had to say about the move:

“The Michigan Insider has learned that Pep Hamilton is leaving Michigan pursue other opportunities. The program confirmed that former offensive analyst Ben McDaniels will now take over coaching the quarterbacks in Ann Arbor. That answers the pressing question about what the final composition of Jim Harbaugh’s staff will be in the aftermath of hiring of new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. The former Alabama assistant was a co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach in Tuscaloosa. Prior to adding Gattis to the fold Harbaugh expressed his desire to elevate McDaniels during preparation for the Peach Bowl.”

Hamilton spent the last two seasons with the Wolverines under the title of assistant head coach and passing game coordinator while also working with the quarterbacks. It is not clear what opportunities he will pursue, but coaching in Ann Arbor is no longer one of them.

This seems as if it is more of a formality at this point, as the writing has been on the wall for Hamilton since the hiring of Gattis and talk of Michigan completely overhauling their offensive philosophy, which seems as if it will be geared more toward getting its playmakers the football as opposed to clock control and body blows.

In the last two seasons, Michigan has parted ways with both Drevno and Hamilton, leaving Harbaugh as the lone remaining variable in the team’s offensive approach during his tenure and some of the struggles that have followed. Getting this thing turned around and bringing Michigan to the forefront again offensively will fall on his shoulders and these moves will define where his tenure goes from here.

Harbaugh will get the criticism, and deservedly so, but he does deserve credit for the changes made to the staff so far this offseason, which, in theory, point to a change in philosophy and tweaks that needed to be made coming off of a disappointing end to the season.