Jeff Thorne, the father of Michigan State starting quarterback Payton Thorne, is set to become offensive coordinator at Western Michigan, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Detroit News. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal isn't yet final. An announcement is expected next week.
Western Michigan opens the 2022 season at Michigan State.
The hire is a boon for an already-stout Western Michigan offense, which ranked 12th in the nation in yards per game in 2021 (466.4). That was tops in the Mid-American Conference.
It wasn't immediately clear how the staffing situation will sort itself out at Western Michigan, which has an opening after receivers coach Greg Harbaugh Jr.