Michigan Football Adds Air Force Defensive Coordinator to Staff

Brian Knorr joins the Wolverines as an assistant special teams coach.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:15am

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Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has added another member to his coaching staff, bringing on Air Force defensive coordinator Brian Knorr as an assistant special teams coach, according to a team spokesman.

Why it matters

The addition of Knorr, an experienced defensive coordinator, provides the Wolverines with additional expertise in special teams as they look to improve in that phase of the game.

The details

Knorr, who has served as Air Force's defensive coordinator since 2020, will now join the Michigan staff in a supporting role on special teams. He brings a wealth of coaching experience, having previously held coordinator positions at Ohio, Wake Forest, and Indiana.

  • Knorr joined the Michigan staff this week.

The players

Kyle Whittingham

The head coach of the Michigan football team.

Brian Knorr

The former defensive coordinator at Air Force, who has now joined the Michigan staff as an assistant special teams coach.

Dave Ablauf

A spokesman for the Michigan football team.

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What they’re saying

“Kyle Whittingham isn't done adding to his staff at Michigan.”

— Dave Ablauf, Team spokesman (The Ann Arbor News)

What’s next

Knorr will begin his new role with the Wolverines immediately, as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

The addition of an experienced defensive coordinator like Knorr to the special teams unit underscores Michigan's commitment to improving in all facets of the game as they look to build on their success in the coming season.