Kyle Whittingham hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on Michigan football, and if early returns are any indication, the Wolverines are building something formidable in Ann Arbor. With a series of high-impact staff hires, Whittingham is signaling that Michigan isn’t just looking to maintain its recent success - it’s aiming to elevate it.
Let’s start with the big headline: Michigan is bringing in Jim Harding, one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country. Harding has spent the last 11 seasons molding Utah’s offensive front into one of the most consistent and physical units in college football. Now, he’s headed to the Big Ten, where he’ll not only coach the Wolverines’ offensive line but also serve as assistant head coach.
This is a major move. Harding’s résumé speaks for itself - 20 all-conference selections during his tenure with the Utes, including 11 first-teamers since 2015, the most of any offensive line coach in the nation.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. Harding has a proven track record of developing talent and building cohesive, punishing offensive lines that dominate at the point of attack.
Utah’s line was so good, in fact, that the program could see two of its offensive linemen taken in the first round of April’s NFL Draft.
And Harding didn’t do that with blue-chip talent stockpiled at every position. He developed players - coached them up, refined their technique, and built a culture of toughness and execution. That’s the kind of coaching pedigree that travels well, and at Michigan, he’ll have even more tools to work with.
The Wolverines aren’t exactly starting from scratch up front. Three of Michigan’s starting offensive linemen down the stretch last season were redshirt freshmen - young, talented, and already battle-tested.
Add in a pipeline of high-upside prospects like five-star tackles Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood, plus four-stars Nathan Efobi and Evan Link, and there’s a foundation in place that any O-line coach would be thrilled to inherit. Don’t overlook Brady Norton either - the FCS transfer brings depth and experience, and Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the strongest in the country.
Simply put, Harding is walking into a situation where he can hit the ground running. Michigan was already trending toward having one of the top offensive lines in college football over the next two seasons. With Harding at the helm, that projection feels more like a guarantee.
And that’s not just good news for the linemen - it’s a game-changer for the entire offense. Michigan averaged 219 rushing yards per game last season, an impressive number by most standards.
But Utah, under Harding’s guidance, put up 267 per game. That kind of production speaks to a line that not only opens holes but controls games.
With Harding in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s ground game could take a significant leap forward - and that’s a huge selling point for five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and other key pieces, whether they’re already on the roster or weighing their options in the transfer portal.
Of course, Harding isn’t the only big addition. Whittingham also brought in Jason Beck as offensive coordinator - the architect of a Utah offense that ranked fifth nationally in scoring last year, averaging 41.3 points per game.
And on the defensive side, Jay Hill, BYU’s former defensive coordinator, will now run the Wolverines’ defense. Hill’s units were known for their aggressive, turnover-hungry style - a trait Michigan fans will recognize from Jesse Minter’s tenure.
But among all these strong hires, Harding might be the most quietly impactful. Games are still won and lost in the trenches, and Michigan has made a clear investment in dominating that space. With Harding leading the offensive line, the Wolverines are setting themselves up not just to compete, but to control games physically - the kind of identity that wins championships.
Whittingham is building a staff that reflects his philosophy: tough, smart, and relentless. And with Harding now in maize and blue, Michigan’s offensive line could once again be the engine that drives a championship-caliber team.