Coach’s Corner: Profile of the New Offensive Coaches.

Posted at 8:00am — 2/9/2011

Coach’s Corner: Profile of the New Offensive Coaches.

GBMWolverine readers here are some thumbnail summaries of Michigan’s new offensive coaches.

This material is based on our first hand experience with the new UM assistants, or the perception and opinion of people within the field we respect. You can read the typical press release bios elsewhere.

University of Michigan New Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach – Al Borges

Resume:
Coach Borges has twenty-five years of experience as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator. His journey, like most coaches, has taken him to many destinations, including Portland State, UCLA, and Auburn. Coach Borges has helped develop five All-American quarterbacks, including two first round NFL draft picks. Coach Borges is well respected and one of the foremost “experts” on the West Coast Offense. Coach Dye called Coach Borges” The best offensive coordinator he had ever seen.”

Our take:
Coach Borges is an excellent teacher and strategist. He is detail oriented and demanding on his players. What we like best is that Coach Borges is willing to tweak or adjust his system to fit his personnel. We also like how his players growth and improvement under his guidance. We see very little downside it this hire.

Concerns:
If there is one, it would be that he has a reputation of being less than a great recruiter.

University of Michigan New Tight End and Special Teams Coach – Dan Ferrigino

Resume:
Coach Ferrigino has over twenty-five years of coaching experience including time at Oregon and Western Michigan with Coach Hoke. He has worked with tight ends, wide receivers, and special teams during that time. Coach also has experience as an offensive coordinator. Of note is that Ferrigino has coached Tony Gonzales and Sean Jackson.

Our take:
We are very excited UM has added a tight end and special teams coach, especially of this caliber. We believe this bodes well and provides evidence that Coach Hoke is working to improve performance areas UM was lacking in the last few seasons. Coach Ferrigino is a dynamic, high-energy coach. His work with special teams has been impressive. His reputation is that of a very good recruiter

Concerns:
Coach Ferrigino has spent over twenty years coaching in the PAC. We wonder that if he gets a chance to go back to the West Coast will he take it?

University of Michigan New Wide Receiver Coach – Jeff Hecklinski

Resume:
Coach Hecklinski was a very good college quarterback at Western Illinois, and he played in the Arena League. Hecklinski has over ten years of coaching experience, including the last five seasons as an offensive coordinator. Coach Hecklinski has also worked with wide receivers and running backs in the past.

Our take:
We like that Coach Hecklinski is a Midwest guy with contacts in the region. He is a dynamic personality with lots of fire and energy. He is also a very good recruiter. We have been told that players really like playing for him. He seems to get a lot of his kids.

Concerns:
Coaching in a major power conference is a new experience for him.

University of Michigan New O Line Coach – Darrell Funk

Resume:
Coach Funk has twenty + years coaching experience with tight ends and offensive linemen. He spent the majority of his time at his alma mater, Colorado State. Like the others above, Coach Funk has been an offensive coordinator in the past.

Our take:
We are less familiar with Coach Funk than the others on the new staff. What we do know about him we like. He is a fiery and intense line coach. He preaches mental and physical toughness. His reputation is that of a very good teacher. The numbers and performance of his players back up this assessment. At each stop the offensive lines and offenses have shown improvement each season. His lines are known for being excellent at pass pro.

Concerns:
Coach Funk is replacing Michigan’s best coach, so there are huge shoes to fill and there will be lots of pressure since his predecessor was very popular.

University of Michigan Running Backs Coach – Fred Jackson

Resume:
Thirty years of coaching, Twenty years at Michigan. He has been an offensive coordinator and has coached multiple All-Conference running backs.

Our take:
We have always liked Coach Jackson. We have been familiar with him since he coached at Toledo in early the 80’s. We love watching this guy coach; he gets his points across using humor and intensity. Most of his players get nicknames. His rapport with his players is outstanding. Coach Jackson is also an outstanding recruiter.

Concerns:
After twenty years you wonder about a guy going a bit stale. We doubt this happens with Coach Jackson, but it is always possible.

Written by GBMWolverine Staff

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