A source confirmed to The Michigan Daily on Friday afternoon that assistant coach Tim Drevno has left the team.
The move came as a surprise to the source. Drevno had been Michigan’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the past three years, arriving in the winter of 2014 along with Jim Harbaugh.
The news was first reported by Brandon Justice of The Wolverine Lounge and Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated. According to Justice and Feldman, offensive analyst Ed Warinner will take over as Drevno’s replacement, coaching the offensive line.
It had appeared Michigan was done with the coaching carousel following Jim McElwain’s hire as the 10th assistant on staff this past week. Drevno’s departure is only the latest shakeup in what has been an offseason full of them. Former offensive tackles and tight ends coach Greg Frey left for Florida State, Dan Enos joined Alabama shortly after accepting a position on Michigan’s staff and former safeties coach Brian Smith is now the defensive coordinator at Rice.
The Wolverines added Sherrone Moore as tight ends coach, Al Washington as a defensive assistant, McElwain as wide receivers coach — and now Warinner, previously an offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Minnesota, will also be an on-field assistant.
Under Drevno, Michigan finished 105th in total offense this past season, averaging just 5.18 yards per play, 348.9 yards per game and 25.2 points per game.
The Wolverines never fully coalesced as an offense, struggling to protect quarterbacks Wilton Speight, John O’Korn and Brandon Peters, who combined to take 36 sacks.
Meanwhile, the running game showed promise — especially during a three-game stretch against Rutgers, Minnesota and Maryland — yet failed to consistently gain yardage against top teams.
As a whole, the offense took a step back from the 2016 and 2015 seasons and was the main culprit responsible for Michigan’s stumble to an 8-5 record this past year. Harbaugh told reporters on National Signing Day that he was working to improve the unit.
“On offense right now, we are going through a self-scout period,” he said, “and looking at ways to get our offense up to where our defense is.”
Harbaugh also had high praise for Warinner that day.
“As good a coach as he is, we’re planning on this being a long and trusting friendship between Ed Warinner and the Michigan football program,” Harbaugh said. “Have been very, very, very impressed with Ed.”
Warinner has made numerous stops around the midwest throughout his 34-year long career — including stints with several familiar teams. He coached at Ohio State between 2012-16, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top offensive line coaches. He was at Notre Dame between 2010-11 and also coached the linebackers and secondary at Michigan State between 1985-86. His son, Edward, will be a freshman linebacker for the Spartans next fall.
The Michigan athletic department had no comment when asked for confirmation of Drevno’s exit.