Charlotte hired Michigan associate head coach Francis “Biff” Poggi as its the new head coach, the university confirmed Tuesday.

It marks Poggi’s first head coaching stint in the collegiate ranks. He joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan in July 2021 after a stint as the head coach at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore.

“We are extremely fortunate to welcome Biff Poggi as our head football coach,” athletic director Mike Hill said in a statement. “He is a transformational leader and has a sterling reputation as a coach, having had phenomenal success at the highest levels of college and high school football. But he is much more than that. He has demonstrated it by pouring himself into young men and communities, and the results have been spectacular. We are thrilled to have Biff and his wife, Amy, join Niner Nation and the Charlotte community.”

Poggi is just as excited about the future at Charlotte.

“Joining the Charlotte 49ers is an incredible opportunity,” Poggi said in a news release. “The great momentum created by the leadership of this University and its athletics program gives us every opportunity to build a successful pathway for so many young men in our region. For me, this is a full-circle moment, a chance to pay forward the wonderful opportunities that were given to me as a young man. We can build a championship program at Charlotte, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Poggi replaces Will Healy, fired by Charlotte last month amid a 1-7 start to the season. Healy was 15-24 in three-plus seasons in Charlotte.

Offensive line coach Pete Rossomando has been serving as interim head coach.

–Field Level Media