Michigan Panthers reveal coaching staff for upcoming season

Phil Pinarski
·3 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — We are just over a month away from the start of the inaugural United Football League season.

Coaches and players have already reported to Arlington, Texas, for the start of training camp and that includes the Michigan Panthers. There are a lot of old faces from last season returning and some new faces, especially on the coaching staff.

Michigan Panthers release 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at who will be taking the reigns for the Panthers in 2024:

  • Head Coach Mike Nolan: Nolan returns for his second season as head coach of the Panthers. He led Michigan to a playoff berth in 2023 and looks to continue the momentum. Nolan has spent over four decades coaching college and professional football and even spent three years as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

  • Defensive Coordinator Collin Bauer: Bauer is also in his second season with the team. He joined the Panthers as the defensive line coach last year and helped shape one of the best defenses in the league. He helped make defensive end Breeland Speaks one of the top players in 2023. He takes over the DC duties from Steve Brown.

  • Offensive Coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille: Bellefeuille spent the last two seasons coaching with the Philadelphia Stars before the USFL and XFL combined. He was the wide receivers coach and has held other coaching positions in the Canadian Football League for years and was the head coach of the Mailton Tiger-Cats from 2008-2011.

  • Special Teams Coach Jaron Fairman: The special teams will once again be led by Jaron Fairman. He has spent his time after playing college football at Fresno State holding a mariade of different titles, including coaching the same positions at Florida Atlantic University, Nicholls State and Western Colorado.

  • Offensive Line Coach Tim Holt: Another familiar face is offensive line coach Tim Holt. He will bring nearly three decades of coaching back to Detroit. Holt has held many different coaching titles at several colleges and also spent seven seasons coaching in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears.

  • Defensive Backs Coach Brock Marion: Another former USFL transplant. Marion was on the coaching staff of the Memphis Showboats and now finds himself with the Panthers. He is most known for his time on the field, where he starred on the Miami Dolphins, making three Pro Bowls. He also won two Super Bowls at the start of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

  • Linebackers Coach Christian Runza: Runza was a big part in the Panthers’ success last season as he helped rejuvenate the defense and also played a part in Frank Ginda’s rise to fame. He was previously a coach with Towson University before joining Nolan’s staff.

  • Running Backs Coach Jordan Pavlisin: Pavlisin is back and with a much improved running back core. Reggie Corbin is back alongside former Stars running back Matt Colburn. Pavlisin is also a former Professional Indoor Football League player.

  • Tight Ends Coach Gary Watkins: Watkins is expected to continue the growth of the Panthers’ tight ends after a successful first year in the league. He has also retained his second job as the head coach of San Diego Mesa College, a JUCO in California.

Bauer and Bellefeuille will also have added responsibilities as they will also coach the defensive line and quarterbacks respectively. General manager Steve Kazor is also back with the Panthers after taking the job in 2023.

The Panthers begin their season against the St. Louis Battlehawks at Ford Field on March 30 at 4 p.m.

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