Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh brought Devin Bush Sr. in as an offensive analyst, but with Brian Smith’s departure, there’s now an opening for a safeties coach.

Bush Sr. has been given the reins since Smith left for Rice to become the team’s defensive coordinator, and he’s making the most of his opportunity. The former Florida State standout, father of sophomore linebacker Devin Bush Jr., led Florida’s Flanagan High to a 2015 state title and has been viewed as an up-and-comer in his profession.

“He’s the interim safeties coach,” Harbaugh said during his Outback Bowl press conference. “I know [defensive coordinator] Don [Brown] likes Devin a lot … so do I. So this is a great opportunity for him to coach on the field. He hasn’t done that [collegiately]. It’s an extended job interview. He’s doing a good job.”

Junior safety Tyree Kinnel is among those who is in Bush’s corner. He said the coach is doing a ‘great job,’ and it helps that he knows the system. Bush had been working alongside Smith and learning the ropes.

“He’s doing good. He’s great,” Kinnel said. “His personality matches his coaching.

"He’s a high-energy guy. He gets after you a lot. We’re learning a lot from him back in that safety room. It’s been good working with Coach Bush these last three weeks.”

Bush Jr. had no doubt his dad would be successful.

“They love him,” he said. “He’s hard on them. He’s always going to be hard on them, but they love his energy."

He was hard on his son, too, Bush Jr. said with a smile, but it helped him become a better player. The younger is now a second team All-American.

“He always criticized me, was my biggest critic, but always pushed me to be perfect,” he said.

That style might just land him a permanent coaching spot on Harbaugh’s staff.