Thursday's news of Michigan football hiring Josh Gattis from Alabama to become the Wolverines' offensive coordinator marks another name on the long list of assistants Jim Harbaugh has employed since becoming Michigan's head coach in 2015. In fact, he's now the 19th person to coach under Harbaugh in Ann Arbor. Here's a list of Harbaugh's staff, by year, and where they went after leaving Michigan: 2015 In: John Baxter, Tim Drevno, D.J. Durkin, Jedd Fisch, Jay Harbaugh, Greg Jackson, Tyrone Wheatley, Michael Zordich. Stays (from Brady Hoke staff): Greg Mattison. 2016 In: Don Brown, Chris Partridge, Brian Smith Out:John Baxter (USC special teams coach), D.J. Durkin (Maryland HC), Greg Jackson (Dallas Cowboys safeties coach). Stays: Tim Drevno, Jedd Fisch, Jay Harbaugh, Greg Mattison, Tyrone Wheatley, Michael Zordich More:Michigan football new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis: Get to know him More:Jim Harbaugh vs. Ryan Day: The latest moves are all about recruiting 2017 In: Greg Frey, Pep Hamilton. Out: Jedd Fisch (UCLA OC), Tyrone Wheatley (Jacksonville Jaguars RB coach). Stays: Don Brown, Tim Drevno, Jay Harbaugh, Greg Mattison, Chris Partridge, Brian Smith, Michael Zordich. 2018 In: Jim McElwain, Sherrone Moore, Ed Warriner, Al Washington. Out: Greg Frey (Florida State OL coach), Tim Drevno (USC RB coach), Brian Smith (Rice DC). Stays: Don Brown, Pep Hamilton, Jay Harbaugh, Greg Mattison, Chris Partridge, Mike Zordich. 2019 (as of Feb. 5) In: Josh Gattis, Ben McDaniels. Out: Jim McElwain (Central Michigan HC), Greg Mattison (Ohio State co-DC), Al Washington (Ohio State LB coach), Pep Hamilton (unknown). Stays: Don Brown, Jay Harbaugh, Sherrone Moore, Chris Partridge, Ed Warriner, Mike Zordich.<doc-sep>It’s official. The University of Michigan has released a statement from head coach Jim Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis confirming the hiring. Harbaugh: “The offense and passing games under Josh’s direction have achieved at a very high level throughout his coaching career. Josh will provide leadership to our offense while being a great mentor to our student-athletes and an outstanding addition to our coaching staff. Michigan football looks forward to having Josh, Tesa and their children, Jace and Reece, join our University family.” Gattis: “It is an honor and a privilege to join the University of Michigan football family under Coach Harbaugh, one of the most successful head coaches in all of football. I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve as your offensive coordinator. This is the leadership challenge I’ve coveted. The football tradition at the University of Michigan is among the very best in college athletics. My family and I couldn’t be more excited to arrive in Ann Arbor.” Gattis was Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2018 and previously coached wideouts at Penn State under James Franklin. What are your thoughts on the hire?<doc-sep>Well that didn't take long. Alabama co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach Josh Gattis needed only one season under coach Nick Saban before he was able to position himself for the job of offensive coordinator and play-caller. And he didn't have to take a step down in order to do it. On Thursday, Michigan announced that Gattis would join the previously offensive coordinator-less staff under coach Jim Harbaugh. Gattis' decision to leave, while not altogether unexpected, has to sting for Saban. Because it was only an offseason ago when Saban completely overhauled his coaching staff, hiring several new assistants and promoting others. It was a youth movement with the likes of the 34-year-old Gattis brought on as a way of creating a renewed energy on the recruiting trail in particular. With so many young faces, the thought was that a few might stay around and create some stability on a staff that had seen tremendous turnover in recent years. Instead, Michigan scooped up Gattis in the blink of an eye as more instability continues to plague Alabama's assistant coaching ranks. Here's a look at what it means for both programs. What it means for Michigan: The Wolverines lost two very good recruiters when defensive line coach Greg Mattison and linebackers coach Al Washington both left for Ohio State. Adding Gattis to the staff will go a long way in recruiting as they are adding back in a young, energetic and talented recruiter. Gattis had a hand in landing five-star receiver Justin Shorter at Penn State as well as ESPN 300 defensive lineman Antonio Alfano among others at Alabama. As offensive coordinator, Gattis has an opportunity to work with an offense that returns all but two starters in running back Karon Higdon and lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty. The knock on Michigan last season was that the offense wasn't utilizing its personnel to its fullest and that it could benefit from play-calling to help get its players in space and create more opportunities for big plays. Gattis is coming from his co-offensive coordinator post at Alabama where the Tide ranked No. 6 in offensive yards per game, No. 2 in yards per play and sixth in passing yards per game. Michigan was ranked 49th in yards per game, 42nd in yards per play and 79th in pass yards per game. It seems likely Gattis could have the biggest impact in the passing game, especially because his specialty has been working with wide receivers. He will have the opportunity to work with Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black at Michigan as well as ESPN 300 wide receiver Cornelius Johnson and four-star receivers Mike Sainristil and Giles Jackson in the 2019 class. What it means for Alabama: Even though Gattis wasn't technically responsible for calling plays as the co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach, that doesn't mean he won't be missed now that he's moved on to Michigan. The impact he made this season on the field and in recruiting was undeniable under Saban. You saw perhaps most obviously in the way the receiver corps transformed into the deepest unit under Saban's tenure at Alabama. Some of that can be attributed to the emergence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, of course. And, yes, some of it can be traced to offensive coordinator Mike Locksley as well. But give Gattis his due. Before, stars like Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley dominated the stat sheet, leaving scraps for the No. 2 and 3 targets. This season it was different. Not only did Jerry Jeudy get his as the No. 1 option, catching 68 passes for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award, but so did fellow receivers Jaylen Waddle, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith, who each caught at least 40 passes and six touchdowns. It's safe to say, though, that Gattis became a name in the coaching ranks through his ability to recruit. And he was a major reason why Alabama was able to secure the No. 1-ranked class on the early signing day, having played a role in the recruitment of ESPN 300 prospects like Justin Eboigbe and Antonio Alfano. Replacing Gattis with someone as proven on the recruiting trail and as adept at handling a crowded group of receivers won't be easy. With no official offensive coordinator, that only complicates matters further for Saban.<doc-sep>EAST LANSING — Michigan State football's offensive staff is undergoing a major restructuring for 2019. But no coaches are leaving the Spartans. Mark Dantonio said Thursday that Brad Salem will take over as Michigan State’s offensive coordinator. Dave Warner and Jim Bollman, who previously shared the role, were reassigned to position coaches. "This is probably the most significant change we have had in my 12 years here," Dantonio said. "But it is warranted." Salem, a ninth-season assistant coach who was head coach at Division II Augustana College in South Dakota, also is back to coaching running backs, which he did from 2010-12 before taking over as quarterbacks coach in 2013. He replaced Dan Enos on Dantonio’s staff in 2010 and was a graduate assistant at MSU under George Perles and Nick Saban from 1994-96. [ Shawn Windsor: Mark Dantonio's failure to adapt is crippling Michigan State ] Salem went 31-26 in five seasons from 2005-09 at his alma mater Augustana, in his hometown of Sioux Falls, where he was quarterback from 1990-92 and also once served as offensive coordinator. He ran more of a “one-back multiple” spread-style offense with the Vikings that predominantly ran out of the shotgun set. Warner will vacate his co-offensive coordinator and running backs positions to return to coaching the Spartans’ quarterbacks. He held that role from 2007-12 and tutored Kirk Cousins for five seasons and Connor Cook during his early years. Bollman shifts to offensive line coach from co-offensive coordinator, a role he had at MSU under Nick Saban from 1995-97. Mark Staten will take over tight ends and special teams, moving from the offensive line. He previously coached MSU’s tight ends after arriving with Dantonio in 2007. "I'm a foxhole guy," Dantonio said. "I don't apologize for that in any respect. I believe in surrounding myself with loyal people. I believe in digging in when things get tough." Don Treadwell, the former MSU offensive coordinator from 2007-10, will coach wide receivers. Terrence Samuel will take over Treadwell’s role as assistant defensive backs coach and freshman head coach after spending the past eight seasons coaching wideouts. [ Final stats show dichotomy of Michigan State football's 2018 season ] The Spartans finished 125th out of 129 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in scoring offense (18.7 points per game) and 116th in total offense (342.1 yards) in 2018. They also ranked 114th in rushing offense (124.8 yards), 115th in third-down conversions (33.5 percent) and 126th in passing efficiency (101.37). Injuries played a major factor in the downturn, particularly when quarterback Brian Lewerke suffered a right-shoulder injury during an upset win at Penn State. The junior had completed 60 percent of his passes (135 of 225) for 1,587 yards passing with eight TDs up to that point, then went just 49 of 114 for 452 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions after suffering the injury. MSU also lost top running back LJ Scott for the majority of the season, and then lost top receiver Felton Davis III for the rest of the year during the Michigan game. At one point, seven of the Spartans’ top eight receivers were battling injuries. They also used nine different offensive line combinations in going 7-6 this season, with just one player — right tackle Jordan Reid — starting every game at the same position. The Spartans will return all but Scott, Davis, tight end Matt Sokol and offensive lineman David Beedle on offense in 2019. MSU's staff changes The Spartans shuffled their coaching staff Thursday, especially on offense, but didn’t hire or fire anyone. The changes: • Brad Salem: Goes from QB coach to offensive coordinator. • Dave Warner: Goes from co-offensive coordinator and RB coach to QB coach. • Jim Bollman: Goes from co-offensive coordinator to O-line coach. • Mark Staten: Goes from O-line coach to TE & special teams coach. • Don Treadwell: Goes from assistant DB coach to WR coach. • Terrence Samuel: Goes from WR coach to assistant DB coach. More:Michigan State football fans don't take offensive shakeup well Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!<doc-sep>
Jim Harbaugh lost two assistant coaches on the defensive side of the ball earlier this week. He’s going to end it by adding another name on offense. Josh Gattis, who was co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach this past season at Alabama, was named Michigan’s new offensive coordinator on Thursday. The hire was first reported by The Athletic. “The offense and passing games under Josh’s direction have achieved at a very high level throughout his coaching career,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said in a news release from the program. “Josh will provide leadership to our offense while being a great mentor to our student-athletes and an outstanding addition to our coaching staff.” The impact Josh Gattis had at Vandy, Penn State and on that young WR group at Alabama this past year was very impressive. Landing him is probably the best addition for Michigan since Harbaugh got Don Brown. https://t.co/fHBITiRZSu — Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 10, 2019 Gattis, 34, spent one season with the Crimson Tide and four at Penn State, where he coached wide receivers and was the program’s offensive recruiting coordinator from 2014 to 2017. He also coached receivers at Vanderbilt in 2012 and 2013 and Western Michigan in 2011. According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Gattis will call plays for Michigan in 2019. The hire is a big one for Harbaugh and the Michigan offense, which ranked 50th nationally in yards per game in 2018. It was never publicly revealed who was calling the plays last season, but Harbaugh, assistant head coach and passing-game coordinator Pep Hamilton and offensive line coach Ed Warinner were all believed to be involved in some capacity. “It’s an honor and a privilege to join the University of Michigan football family under Coach Harbaugh, one of the most successful head coaches in all of football,” Mattis said in the release. “This is the leadership challenge I’ve coveted. The football tradition at the University of Michigan is among the very best in college athletics. My family and I couldn’t be more excited in Ann Arbor.” Gattis -- a former safety who played collegiately at Wake Forest, and had a short stint in the NFL -- marks the first offensive coordinator at Michigan since 2017, when Tim Drevno held the title, managed the run game and coached the offensive line. He resigned last February, leading to the Warinner hire. While the Michigan offense made improvements in 2018, the unit was hampered by the same conservative, stale play calling of 2017 in losses to Notre Dame and Ohio State. What this means, if anything, for Hamilton is unclear. He just started the third of a four-year contract that pays him more than $1 million annually. Harbaugh said last month before the Peach Bowl that he planned to promote offensive analyst Ben McDaniels to wide receivers coach, after Jim McElwain left in December to take the head-coaching job at Central Michigan. With Gattis and McDaniels presumably on staff, Michigan now has room for one more on-field assistant coach. Greg Mattison (defensive line) and Al Washington (linebackers) departed Michigan for Ohio State earlier this week.