Michigan and Ohio State have seen a number of assistant coaches go from one side of the heated rivalry to the other side in recent seasons.
Some names that have been on both sides of the rivalry in recent years include guys like Greg Mattison (Michigan to Ohio State) and Tony Alford (Ohio State to Michigan).
We can add another today, word broke that a former veteran Buckeye coordinator was heading to Ann Arbor to take on a coordinator role.
Kerry Coombs, who has spent all but one stop in his long coaching career within the state of Ohio as either a high school or college coach, has joined the Michigan staff as their new special teams coordinator.
"Coach Kerry Coombs is a proven, exceptional football coach, and we're thrilled to welcome him to our program," Sherrone Moore shared in the school's release.
"Kerry's leadership of our special teams will be invaluable. His expertise in teaching and mentoring has consistently shaped both outstanding athletes and remarkable young men --including some of the nation's top special teams players and cornerbacks. We're proud to have Kerry, Holly, and their family join the Michigan Football family."
At 64 years old, Coombs brings over four decades of coaching experience to his new role.
A passionate coach known for his recruiting ability, Coombs spent this past season away from the sidelines.
He spent the 2022-24 seasons on staff at Cincinnati, where he coached the corners and coordinated the special teams.
After an accomplished career as a high school head coach at Loveland HS (OH) and Colerain HS (OH), Coombs got his first college job coaching the defensive backs at Cincinnati for a few seasons starting in 2007, and by 2009 he was elevated to a coordinator role with the Bearcats working with the special teams.
He would leave Cincinnati for the chance to join Urban Meyer's Ohio State first staff in 2012 coaching the corners. Coombs would add special teams coordinator duties in Columbus just a season later, and after a few seasons in that role he left with Mike Vrabel for the NFL coaching the defensive backs for the Titans for a few season.
He would return to Columbus for the opportunity to become the Buckeyes defensive coordinator for a few seasons, but in year two, after plenty of struggles, the defensive play calling duties were handed off to assistant Matt Barnes for the remainder of the season. That decision ultimately led to Day and the Buckeyes and Coombs to part ways.
Three days ago, Sherrone decided to part ways with special teams coordinator JB Brown, who was in his second season coordinating the Wolverines special teams. That created an opening to bring an experienced and decorated coach like Coombs in.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.