Michigan football’s Denard Robinson booted from program after OWI arrest

Assistant coach and former quarterback Denard Robinson has been dismissed from the program following an arrest, according to The Athletic. Robinson, who had been suspended by Michigan after being arrested in April for allegedly driving under the influence, was relieved of his duties, as confirmed by Michigan football spokesman Dave Ablauf. Ablauf declined to provide further details, citing it as a personnel matter.

Robinson, an alumnus of the Michigan football program where he played quarterback from 2009 to 2012, was serving as the assistant director of player personnel. Initially hired by former head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2022, he was retained when Sherrone Moore took over as head coach.

The legal issue stemmed from an incident on April 15, when Robinson was involved in a single-vehicle car crash in Michigan, as reported by the Detroit News. The crash occurred near the university’s football facilities, leading to Robinson’s arrest. He was suspended by the university pending the resolution of the legal proceedings.

A prominent figure among Michigan football fans, Robinson holds the college football record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback, according to ESPN. He started in 37 games for the Wolverines and accumulated 4,495 rushing yards during his college career, setting the single-season rushing record for a quarterback with 1,702 yards in the 2010 season.

Before his return to Michigan, Robinson had a brief stint in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also served as an assistant for the Jaguars, holding roles such as offensive quality control coach and scouting assistant. Additionally, he worked as an offensive analyst for Jacksonville University during the 2019 season.

Robinson’s dismissal isn’t an isolated incident within the Michigan coaching staff. Defensive line coach Greg Scruggs, arrested in March for a similar offense, resigned from the team, as reported by ESPN.

As Michigan football transitions to a new era under head coach Sherrone Moore, following Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL after winning the College Football Playoff in 2023, the program is gearing up for the 2024 season opener against Fresno State on August 31.