Michigan staffer, key assistant reportedly following Jim Harbaugh to NFL
Michigan is expected to lose another key piece of the coaching staff to Jim Harbaugh’s NFL departure.
According to Angelique Chengelis with The Detroit News, head strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert will leave the Wolverines to join Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers. In place of Herbert, Sherrone Moore is expected to stay in-house and promote Justin Tress (assistant strength coach under Herbert) to the new director of the strength staff.
Am told Ben Herbert is leaving Michigan to join Jim Harbaugh/Chargers.
Moore promoting from within — Justin Tress, who was Herbert assistant strength coach, taking on role of director of strength staff
— angelique (@chengelis) January 29, 2024
While Moore appears poised as the right man for the head coaching job moving forward, he will have a tough task ahead of him. Prominent defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is also reportedly joining Harbaugh, leaving Moore to fill some major pieces of the coaching staff this offseason.
Keeping the lead strength and condition position in-house is likely a solid move by Moore with Tress undoubtedly learning key aspects under Herbert. However, the impact of Herbert cannot be overstated.
College football insider Bruce Feldman particularly praised Herbert for a large role in developing the championship culture in Ann Arbor. A number of Wolverines also appeared on Feldman’s annual “freaks list” during Herbert’s tenure.
As we reported the other day… Can’t stress just how big an impact Ben Herbert made at Michigan. Was fantastic at helping establish the culture that became the heart of a championship program and developed a bunch of Freaks along the way. https://t.co/Kam6bxiI1Z
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 29, 2024