Former Michigan LB, assistant finds on-field coaching gig

The former Michigan football linebacker has received his first on-field coaching job.

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Michigan has had a bevy of former players end up working with the staff as grad assistants upon hanging up their cleats in recent years. But many have been on the move to bigger and better opportunities.

Most recently, we’ve seen former linebacker Mike McCray move to Notre Dame to continue his work as a grad assistant there, but others have taken steps up, whether it be Allen Gant, who is now the defensive coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan or Roy Roundtree becoming GVSU’s wide receivers coach.

Now another is on the move, taking an on-field coaching position.

James Ross was a starting linebacker in Jim Harbaugh’s first year at the helm in Ann Arbor, and quickly became a grad assistant working with the linebacking corps afterward. Now, he’s been hired by Hope College as the Flying Dutchmen’s new linebackers coach.

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Per the release, here’s what Hope College head coach Peter Stuursma had to say about adding Ross to his coaching staff.

“I have watched James grow from a young football player at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s to his career as a player, at the University of Michigan and the NFL, to now. I am ecstatic to have him join the institution of Hope College,” Stuursma said. “James brings a toughness, a work ethic, an expertise, and the ability to build relationships with players that will be a huge asset to our program. He has hit the ground running. We feel fortunate to have someone of his caliber here at Hope College.”

Michigan has significantly retooled its coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, having let all but one assistant go with new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald taking the reins from Don Brown.

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