The Michigan Insider has learned that Pep Hamilton is leaving Michigan pursue other opportunities. The program confirmed that former offensive analyst Ben McDaniels will now take over coaching the quarterbacks in Ann Arbor. That answers the pressing question about what the final composition of Jim Harbaugh’s staff will be in the aftermath of hiring of new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. The former Alabama assistant was a co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach in Tuscaloosa. Prior to adding Gattis to the fold Harbaugh expressed his desire to elevate McDaniels during preparation for the Peach Bowl.

"Ben McDaniels is the receiver coach now," Harbaugh told reporters in Atlanta at the time. "We'd like to make that permanent. He's really done a nice job."

McDaniels’ move to quarterbacks means Gattis will add coaching receivers to coordinator duties.

Hamilton leaves Michigan after completing two years of the four-year, $4.25 million deal he signed in 2017. This marks the end of his second stint coaching under Harbaugh, having previously done so as the receivers coach at Stanford in 2010. During his time in Ann Arbor he served as the program’s assistant head coach, pass game coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. Terms of his any potential buyout and any specific coaching plans weren’t known at press time.

In McDaniels, the Wolverines have added another assistant with both college and pro coaching experience, and who comes from a prestigious coaching tree. His brother Josh is currently the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, and his dad Thom is considered an Ohio coaching legend after successful stints at Canton McKinley and Warren G. Harding (where he coached former Wolverine standouts Prescott Burgess and Mario Manningham).

The younger McDaniels cut his teeth in coaching as a member of his father’s Harding staff in 2003. From there he went on to the University of Minnesota where he served as a graduate assistant in 2004 and 2005. Next up was a return to the high school ranks coaching quarterbacks at Canton McKinley (2006-2007), and then manning that same post on his dad’s staff at Massillon Jackson in 2008.

Next on his timeline was a jump to the NFL in 2009 as an offensive assistant for his brother Josh, who was then the newly named coach of the Denver Broncos. He was promoted to the team’s quarterbacks coach the very next year.

His brother was let go after that season, prompting McDaniels to spend 2011 out of coaching. He returned the following year and had four more coaching stops in the following six seasons – offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for Columbia in 2012, offensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, Rutgers wide receiver coach in 2014 and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2015, and offensive assistant for the Chicago Bears in 2016 and 2017.

He joined Michigan’s staff last season as an offensive analyst.

Stay tuned to The Michigan Insider for more on this breaking news story in the hours to come.