Nussmeier ready to join another storied program

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Doug Nussmeier is just settling in as Michigan’s new offensive coordinator, but he already seems keenly aware of why last season’s Wolverines struggled so much.

That was evident when Nussmeier, a former University of Idaho quarterback, outlined some of his priorities for Michigan’s 2014 team.

“Any time you’re trying to find consistency on offense, you’ve got to start from the basis of – we’re not going to go backward,” he said. “We’re not going to have lost-yardage runs, we’re not going to take sacks, we’re not going to have penalties. That’s the first thing we’ll start from.”

Nussmeier was introduced Friday in Ann Arbor, completing an abrupt switch from one storied program to another. The Wolverines hired him away from Alabama, where he was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator for the past two seasons and helped the Crimson Tide win a national title a year ago.

Before that, he directed the offense at Washington for three seasons.

After going 7-6 last season, Michigan fired offensive coordinator Al Borges and hired Nussmeier almost immediately.

“We have a vision. We know what that is, and that’s why Doug is here today,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said.

“Obviously, it’s a guy with national championship experience, which is the highest goal that we all have.”

Hoke has been Michigan’s coach for three seasons, and the results have been progressively worse after he took the Wolverines to the Sugar Bowl in his first year on the job. This season, Michigan struggled to run the ball and protect quarterback Devin Gardner, finishing 86th in the nation in total offense.

There were a few promising moments – such as 41-point performances in a win over Notre Dame and a near-upset of Ohio State – but Michigan was overpowered at times on the offensive line. The Wolverines ranked last in major college football by giving up 114 tackles for losses.

When Hoke took over after Rich Rodriguez was fired, it seemed to signal a return to Michigan’s roots as a team that emphasized power.

That transition is still a work in progress, as this change in coordinators indicates.

“Tough, physical, explosive,” Nussmeier said. “We want to be able to run the football and we want to be able to put points on the board.”