Note: This story has been updated.
Maurice Linguist’s time at Michigan was short lived.
The newly hired co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach was named the head coach at New York’s State University at Buffalo, a member of the Mid-American Conference, the program announced Friday evening.
Reports earlier Friday linked Linguist to Buffalo, saying he was one of two finalists for the job. One even named him the “frontrunner.”
Linguist, who turned 37 in April, has never been a head coach at the collegiate level. He was hired by Michigan in January, amid a staff shakeup by head coach Jim Harbaugh that included the dismissal of defensive coordinator Don Brown and decision not to extend the contract for long-time cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich.
Michigan’s employment agreement with Linguist — which went into effect on Jan. 20 and runs for two years — stipulates that Linguist would not owe the school a buyout if he departs early for a head-coaching job outside the Big Ten’s East division.
Linguist came to Michigan from the NFL, where he spent one season as cornerbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys. Prior that, Linguist had stints at Texas A&M (2018-19), Minnesota (2017), Mississippi State (2016), Iowa State (2014-15) and Buffalo, where he coached defensive backs in 2012 and 2013. His departure would be a blow for Michigan’s recruiting, which had gained some momentum down south in states such as Texas.
The opening at Buffalo came about in recent weeks after Lance Leipold, the two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, departed to become the head coach at Kansas. While at UB, Leipold compiled a 37-33 overall record and won two MAC East division championships over five seasons.
What Harbaugh elects to do with the staff vacancy left by Linguist is unclear. He may look to the coaching ranks for a replacement, with Kentucky defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale linked to Michigan, or do some shuffling with the current staff.
This isn’t the first time an assistant coach has left Michigan this quickly. Back in 2018, Dan Enos was hired by Harbaugh to coach the receivers — only to depart six weeks later for Alabama.