Michigan’s new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey brings a wealth of experience and what should be a more balanced attack. So how have offenses fared under his tutelage, and what can Michigan fans look forward to?
Sherrone Moore made a big change on the coaching staff last week, bringing in Chip Lindsey to replace Kirk Campbell as Michigan’s offensive coordinator. Lindsey brings plenty of experience to the table, having served eight seasons as an offensive coordinator and three as a head coach at the college level. He has also coached under Gus Malzahn, as well as current Baltimore Ravens coordinator Todd Monken.
When looking for a new coordinator, Moore cited balance and the ability to run the football as characteristics of his ideal offense. Both those have been hallmarks of the offense’s that Lindsey has conducted, but today we’ll be taking a deeper dive into his coaching history.
Here’s a look at some of the numbers and key players behind Chip Lindsey’s offenses dating back to his first year as a coordinator in 2014.
Southern Miss 2014-15
This was Lindsey’s first stop as an offensive coordinator, and it’s safe to say the 2014 offense was the worst he’s ever led. The Golden Eagles managed a mere 19.0 points per game that year, which was good for No. 117 in the country. There was a big improvement in 2015, though, as Southern Miss jumped all the way to No. 13 with 39.9 points per game.
In 2015, the Golden Eagles averaged 329.7 passing yards per game and 179.8 rushing yards per game (509.5 total). Lindsey was the quarterbacks coach in addition to being the offensive coordinator. As such, he helped develop Nick Mullens, who threw for 4,476 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2015. Mullens has since served as a journeyman in the NFL.
Arizona State
2016
Lindsey only coached for one season in the desert, guiding the Sun Devils to 33.3 points per game. Not quite as explosive as his 2015 season at Southern Miss, but still respectable.
Once again, Lindsey acted as the quarterbacks coach, but the results weren’t as remarkable as what he achieved with Mullens. His primary quarterback in 2016, Manny Wilkins, threw for 2,329 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in just 10 games. The most notable player Lindsey oversaw was freshman receiver N’Keal Harry, who had 58 receptions for 659 yards that year. He eventually got picked in the first round by the New England Patriots .
Auburn 2017-18
In Lindsey’s first year as the offensive coordinator at Auburn, he made the Tigers the No. 27 offense nationally in points per game after they were No. 49 the year before. In 2017, Auburn averaged 33.9 points and 451.6 total yards per game. Auburn’s rushing attack was particularly impressive, averaging 218.8 yards per game. That year’s team was just the eighth in SEC history to have more than 3,000 rushing yards and 3,000 passing yards in a single season.
The star on Auburn’s 2017 offense was running back Kerryon Johnson. He led the SEC in rushing that year with 1,391 yards while also racking up 194 receiving yards. Jarrett Stidham was also on that team, and he completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns that year.
In 2018, Auburn’s offense took a step back, averaging just 30.9 points and 389.9 yards per game.
Troy (Head Coach) 2019-21
While serving as the head coach, Lindsey still oversaw a great offense at Troy in 2019. The Trojans averaged 33.8 points per game his first season, good for No. 25 nationally. Troy’s passing attack was particularly good, as quarterback Kaleb Barker threw for 3,628 yards and 30 touchdowns, which both led the Sun Belt that year.
The shortened 2020 season was a much different story, as it represented the first time since 2014 that a Lindsey offense averaged less than 30 points per game. In particular, Troy really struggled on the ground that year, averaging just 103.0 rushing yards per game. This would be the freshman season for running back Kimani Vidal, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft .
The 2021 season was even worse for Troy’s offense, as it ranked No. 103 nationally with 22.8 points per game. It also managed just 339.9 total yards per game. Lindsey was fired as Troy’s head coach after 11 games and finished his tenure with a 15-19 record.
UCF 2022
In 2022, Lindsey reunited with Malzahn to lead the UCF offense. In Lindsey’s lone season with the Golden Knights, they averaged 469.9 total yards and 32.9 points per game. Once again, the rushing attack was outstanding, averaging 228.4 yards per game. Additionally, three different players rushed for more than 700 yards, including quarterback John Rhys Plumlee.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Lindsey was once again leading that position group. Plumlee had the best season of his career in 2022, throwing for 2,586 yards and running for 862 to lead the team. Additionally, UCF’s quarterback room that year included Thomas Castellanos and Mikey Keene, who both went on to make names for themselves at other schools.
North Carolina 2023-24
North Carolina’s 2023 offense averaged 34.5 points and 491.2 total yards per game. It was this season where Lindsey coached the biggest name of his career so far, quarterback Drake Maye. In 2023, Maye paced the ACC in passing yards with 3,608 to go along with 24 touchdowns. This also represented the first season for running back Omarion Hampton as a starter. He made the most of the opportunity, rushing for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns while also catching 29 passes for 222 yards.
With Maye out of the picture in 2024, the Tar Heel offense understandably took a step back, but was still solid, averaging 32.3 points per game. The passing attack wasn’t as potent, as starter Max Johnson was injured in the first game of the season. Still, North Carolina averaged 233.9 passing yards per game with backup Jacolby Criswell.
Hampton also took his game to another level in his second season under Lindsey. This season, he ran for 1,660 yards and also had 373 yards receiving. He figures to be one of the first running backs off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.