Chris Partridge has been named the Michigan football team’s special teams and linebackers coach, the team announced Thursday via a press release.
Partridge had been the team’s director of player personnel for the 2015 season, but he also served as its linebackers coach for the Citrus Bowl after former defensive coordinator and linebackers coach D.J. Durkin left to become the head coach at Maryland.
After Michigan lost Durkin to the Terrapins and former special teams coordinator John Baxter to Southern California last week, Partridge will fill both vacancies.
“Chris has a proven track record as a successful coach,” said Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh via the release. “He has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to his work as our director of player personnel. I know that same passion will be exhibited in his work with our student-athletes.”
Prior to coming to Michigan, Partridge worked from 2010 to 2014 as the head coach at Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, N.J., the alma mater of redshirt freshman safety Jabrill Peppers and the current home of the nation’s No. 1 recruit, defensive tackle Rashan Gary.
Partridge received positive reviews from players for his work as interim linebackers coach for the Citrus Bowl. He inherits a group of linebackers that will lose three starters going into next year and a special teams group that finished the season tied for 12th in special teams efficiency under Baxter.
“I came to Michigan because I wanted to work with the best and learn from the best,” Partridge said in the release. “I couldn’t have a better mentor than coach Harbaugh who shares my vision that the student athletes come first. I am honored by his confidence and for the opportunity to continue to serve this incredibility (sic) institution.”