Michigan’s football program offered a warm welcome to a familiar face on Monday, rejuvenating its coaching staff with a touch of nostalgia.
After an 8-5 finish in his debut season at the helm, head coach Sherrone Moore has decided to bring back Biff Poggi, a trusted ally from Jim Harbaugh’s era. The Wolverines proudly announced Poggi’s return as the new associate head coach.
Poggi previously excelled in this role under Harbaugh between 2021 and 2022, but spent the past two years taking charge as the head coach at Charlotte. Back at Michigan, Poggi wasted no time expressing his enthusiasm.
“I’m absolutely delighted to call Ann Arbor home again! This place will always be my football sanctuary,” Poggi shared joyfully. “I’m deeply grateful to Sherrone Moore, Warde Manuel, and Doug Gnodtke—friends of old. Sometimes, you don’t realize how special a place is until you’ve been elsewhere. #GOBLUE. A heartfelt thanks also goes to my son Henry, a stellar player here who first introduced our family to OUR SCHOOL.”
When Poggi left for Charlotte, Harbaugh praised him as a “trusted agent and known friend.” Under Poggi’s guidance, the Charlotte 49ers posted a 6-16 record before his dismissal late in the 2024 season.
“Biff has been a fantastic mentor to me,” Harbaugh remarked to The Athletic in 2022. “He loves to devise strategies, knows how to coach, and even coaches other coaches. Personally, there aren’t many decisions I make without running them by Biff first—we discuss everything.”
Former Wolverines defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, affectionately dubbed Poggi “the consigliere” during his time at Michigan. For Macdonald, Poggi was an “incredible asset.”
“He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and that’s something you come to appreciate,” Macdonald shared with The Athletic. “He knows exactly which buttons to push. He’s the guy who could either pump me up or sit me down for a chat when needed. Honestly, he’s like the godfather around here.”
While the Wolverines did face a dip in their performance after their 2023 national title, they ended the season on an electrifying note. Michigan triumphed over Ohio State and went on to outplay Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
