McDaniels Named Michigan's Quarterbacks Coach
2/5/2019 5:55:00 PM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Tuesday (Feb. 5) the hiring of Ben McDaniels as the program's quarterbacks coach. McDaniels was the Wolverines' wide receivers coach for the 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after serving as an offensive analyst during the regular season.
"Ben has been an excellent addition to our football staff, and we look forward to his elevated role as our quarterbacks coach this year," said Harbaugh. "Ben is a talented, experienced coach who brings great knowledge and enthusiasm to our offensive coaching staff and the quarterback room. Michigan football appreciates the contributions that Ben and his wife, Kyle, as well as their children, Kinley and Brooks, have made and will continue to make as members of our University family."
McDaniels came to Ann Arbor after a two-year stint with the NFL's Chicago Bears, where he served as an offensive assistant under coach John Fox. While with the Bears, McDaniels worked with the wide receivers during his first season in 2016 and helped mentor the tight ends in 2017.
Prior to his time in Chicago, McDaniels was part of the Rutgers staff for two seasons, serving in the roles of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2015) and wide receivers coach (2014). The Scarlet Knights ranked sixth nationally in passing yards per completion in 2014 as wide receiver Leonte Caroo totaled 1,086 receiving yards and a program record-tying 10 touchdowns, a total he equaled in 2015. Caroo finished as the school's career leader in receiving touchdowns (29) and finished third in yards (2,373). His 12 100-yard receiving games are second all-time in Rutgers history.
Before coaching at Rutgers, McDaniels spent the 2012-13 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an offensive assistant. The team set franchise records in passing yards, total yards and points scored while he was part of the coaching staff, headlined by 2013 NFC Pro Bowlers Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin. McDaniels also helped oversee the development of rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who was a Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie selection. Glennon set franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns by a rookie quarterback, and his 82.0 passer rating was tops among first-year signal-callers in the NFL.
The previous two seasons, McDaniels was in Denver as an offensive assistant (2009) and quarterbacks coach (2010) for the Broncos. McDaniels helped direct the NFL's seventh-ranked passing offense as quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow combined for 4,307 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, in addition to another six rushing scores from Tebow.
McDaniels rose in the high school ranks, beginning his coaching career in 2003 as the wide receivers coach at Warren G. Harding High School. McDaniels worked with his father, Thom McDaniels, who was the 1997 USA Today National Coach of the Year and is a member of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
McDaniels then spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Minnesota (2004-05) while earning his master's degree in sport management before returning to the Ohio high school coaching circuit. While at Minnesota, McDaniels worked under head coach Glen Mason, instructing the wide receivers in 2004 and the defensive backs in 2005. The Golden Gophers amassed a 14-10 record during his two-year stretch, earning berths in the Music City Bowl both seasons.
He coached quarterbacks at his old high school, Canton McKinley, for two seasons (2006-07) and then worked at Jackson High School during the fall of 2008, before landing his first NFL position.
A native of Canton, Ohio, McDaniels led Canton McKinley to a 37-3 record and two state championships in his three years as a starting quarterback. He went on to play quarterback at Kent State University from 1999-2001 and earned his bachelor's degree in sport management.
He and his wife, Kyle, live in Ann Arbor with their two children: daughter, Kinley, and son, Brooks.
About Coach McDaniels
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
High School: Canton McKinley
College: Kent State University (2003)
Wife: Kyle
Children: Kinley, Brooks
Ben McDaniels' Bowl Experience
Michigan: 2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Minnesota: 2004 Music City Bowl, 2005 Music City Bowl
Rutgers: 2014 Quick Lane Bowl
Ben McDaniels' Coaching Experience
| Year | Team | Position |
| 2003 | Warren G. Harding High School | Assistant Coach |
| 2004-05 | Minnesota | Graduate Assistant Coach |
| 2006-07 | Canton McKinley High School | Assistant Coach |
| 2008 | Jackson High School | Assistant Coach |
| 2009 | Denver Broncos | Offensive Assistant |
| 2010 | Denver Broncos | Quarterbacks |
| 2012-13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Offensive Assistant |
| 2014 | Rutgers | Wide Receivers |
| 2015 | Rutgers | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 2016-17 | Chicago Bears | Offensive Assistant |
| 2018 | Michigan | Offensive Analyst |
| 2019 | Michigan | Quarterbacks |
