A peek inside Michigan’s linebacker room this spring would reveal almost nothing familiar -- not the players, not the coaches, not even the schemes scribbled on the chalkboard. Chris Partridge isn’t quite starting from scratch in his first year as a college football coach, but it’s close.
Partridge left behind a successful high school coaching career in New Jersey last year to coordinate the Wolverines’ recruiting efforts as a support staffer. He returned to the sideline during bowl season and is now responsible for a crew of linebackers that lost all three starters from a year ago. Those that remain are learning their third defense in as many years with the arrival of new coordinator Don Brown.