Michigan Football still in limbo with assistant Anthony Campanile

Michigan football has already lost Chris Partridge to a defensive coordinator position and could lose Anthony Campanile to Rutgers next.

People will argue that Michigan football isn’t a successful program. But if that was true, then why are the Wolverines constantly having their assistant coaches poached by other programs?

It’s just a thought that arises because it’s very possible that for the second straight offseason, Michigan football may need to replace two defensive assistants.

Last year, it was Greg Mattison and Al Washington that departed to join the staff of Ryan Day at Ohio State. This offseason, Chris Partridge has already left to become co-DC at Ole Miss and linebackers coach Anthony Campanile is weighing an offer to be the defensive coordinator at Rutgers.

Campanile was hired as the replacement for Washington and he has proven to be a stellar hire by head coach Jim Harbaugh. Not only does he has a good background on the defensive side of the ball as a former co-defensive coordinator at Boston College, but he has been excellent in recruiting and has helped U-M keep the pipeline strong in New Jersey.

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Partridge was also part of establishing that connection to the Garden State, yet keeping Campanile on staff could help maintain it, while also keeping a fresh mind on the defensive side of the ball.

And from all the reporting being done by guys like Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider ($), it sounds like Campanile really likes Michigan football, which has made the decision more difficult.

Campanile is a New Jersey native and has brothers that will be on the staff at Rutgers. So he’s being offered more money, to coach at home, with family. That’s why he would consider leaving Michigan for Rutgers. It’s also a promotion.

But he hasn’t left quite yet for a reason. You wonder if Michigan football might consider giving him a raise or if there would be some possibility of him getting a promotion to co-defensive coordinator or another title that gives him more responsibility.

In the same report, Webb basically said no one knows what Campanile is going to do. At this point, it’s just waiting for him to make a decision.

Certainly, there is no debate that losing Campanile will hurt the Wolverines. But, Harbaugh has done a good job with these kinds of hires before and if he’s forced to do it again, there is a reason to have confidence.