It's hard to complain about any of the hires that Kyle Whittingham has made so far as the new Michigan football head coach.
After locking down offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who coordinated a Utah offense that was fifth in college football in scoring last season with 41.3 points per game, Whittingham added some other elite coaches to his staff, including a new offensive line coach Jim Harding.
Jay Hill, the BYU defensive coordinator, is also coming to run Michigan's defense. That's huge. He's got some similarities to Jesse Minter in the way he coaches defenses. The interceptions of the BYU defense tell the story there.
Yet, the most exciting hire, beyond the coordinators, is easily Harding, who will take over the Michigan football offensive line.
Source: Michigan is hiring top offensive line coach Jim Harding to Kyle Whittingham’s staff. Harding has coached Utah’s O-line for the past 11 seasons and mentored 20 first- or second-team all-league players. Also will be assistant head coach for U-M. pic.twitter.com/3tmdxJcMGf
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 1, 2026
An elite O-line coach from enemy territory
Harding, an Ohio native, has coached the Utah offensive line for the past 11 seasons. He's had 20 all-conference selections in that time. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, who reported the hire, Harding has coached 11 first-team all-conference selections since 2015, which is the most of any coach in college football.
Michigan is set to hire Utah offensive line coach/assistant head coach Jim Harding, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 1, 2026
One of the country’s top OL coaches. Has developed a nation’s leading 12 first-team all-conference players since 2015 and likely to have two first-round picks in April. pic.twitter.com/F5O4gyPnPR
The fact that he did that at Utah is incredible. The Utes might have two first-round picks on the offensive line in April's NFL draft, too.
Harding shouldn't have any problem recruiting elite talent to Michigan. The good news, though, is that there is plenty on the current roster. Three of the starters down the stretch were redshirt freshmen. Michigan also has Andrew Babalola (5-star), Ty Haywood (5-star), Nathan Efobi (4-star), Brady Norton (FCS Transfer), Evan Link (4-star), and a solid 2026 recruiting class.
Michigan football was already trending toward having one of the best offensive lines in college football in 2026/2027.
Now, that's almost a certainty. That's another selling point to quarterback Bryce Underwood, too, as well as other key pieces on the team, or players in the portal.
There's a reason Utah averaged 267 rushing yards per game. Michigan averaged 219. With Harding, that should be much improved next season. The offensive line will be improved, and another Joe Mooe Award could be on the table.