The Michigan Wolverines are making a significant shift heading into the offseason, parting ways with special teams coordinator J.B. Brown after two seasons in the role.
Head coach Sherrone Moore announced the move, emphasizing that the decision came after a full evaluation of the unit’s performance throughout the year. “I made the decision to make a change that was in the best interest of the program,” Moore said in a statement, while thanking Brown for his dedication and impact on the team.
And let’s be honest-this wasn’t a surprising move. Michigan’s special teams in 2025 just didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Wolverines ranked 117th nationally in special teams efficiency. That’s a number that jumps off the page for all the wrong reasons, especially for a program with championship aspirations.
The issues were widespread. In the return game, there was little spark and even less consistency.
Semaj Morgan, who handled punt return duties, struggled to make a positive impact and had trouble securing the ball-an unforgivable flaw in a unit that’s supposed to be a stabilizing force. It wasn’t just the return game either.
Kicker Dominic Zvada took a step back in 2025, converting just 15 of his 22 field goal attempts-good for a 68.2% success rate. That kind of inconsistency can haunt a team in close games.
And then there was the punting situation, where Hudson Hollenbeck’s season was marked by erratic play, including a particularly painful 11-yard shank against Ohio State that summed up the unit’s struggles.
Brown had been with the program since 2021, initially serving as a special teams analyst before being promoted in 2023 to replace Jay Harbaugh, who left for the NFL. The decision to elevate Brown was rooted in continuity, but the results never quite followed.
Special teams might not always get the spotlight, but they’re one of the three critical phases of the game. And when that phase is consistently underperforming, it puts pressure on the offense and defense to be near-perfect. That’s not sustainable, especially in a conference as competitive as the Big Ten.
Ultimately, Moore’s decision to move on from Brown signals a clear understanding: if Michigan wants to stay in the national title conversation, every unit has to be dialed in. That includes special teams.