We’re into the thick of the coaching search for the Michigan football program, and the field of candidates is starting to take shape with some intriguing names jumping to the top of the wish list for fans. However, not every candidate’s situation is created equal, and while the job would be desirable for many, there are still some complicating factors that could get in the way of any given coach becoming the new leader for the Wolverines.
That’s why we’ll be sorting through five of the popular candidates
among the fan base and analyzing why each would or wouldn’t come to Michigan.
Note – On Sunday, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer shut down rumors he was looking at other jobs, so we won’t be including him.
Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham
Why he could come to Michigan: Quickly after the job became available, Dillingham became a name that went to the top of the wish list for fans, and for good reason. At just 35 years old, he has had quite the run of success as a college coach, leading some elite offenses at Oregon, Alabama and Memphis while also getting Arizona State to the College Football Playoff last year.
It’d be unfair to say Dillingham hit his ceiling at Arizona State last year with an 11-3 record, but it might not be that far off. Schools like Texas Tech, BYU and Utah are much more well-positioned to dominate the Big 12 from a resources standpoint going forward, meaning it could make sense for him to jump to a school like Michigan while the opportunity is available. Furthermore, as an elite offensive mind, he’d greatly benefit from having Bryce Underwood, Jordan Marshall and Andrew Marsh to work with.
Why he could stay put: Of all the candidates on this list, Dillingham might have the most compelling reason to stay at his current position. He’s a graduate of Arizona State and cited during a press conference on Saturday his appreciation for having his family close by in Tempe. He also got choked up while talking about his appreciation for Arizona State. Some might interpret that as someone who’s appreciative of their role, while some might see it as someone who knows they might be moving somewhere else — I’ll let you be the judge.
Washington HC Jedd Fisch
Why he could come to Michigan: Jedd Fisch was another coach that quickly came to mind for fans, citing his previous ties to the program as an offensive assistant under Jim Harbaugh from 2015-16. Similar to Dillingham, Fisch has been pretty successful as it comes to rebuilding programs, turning things around at Arizona and Washington in short timeframes. Additionally, he would be much more well-positioned in terms of resources by coming to Michigan. His ties to the program and the midwest are certainly a plus if you’re looking for a “Michigan Man” to take the job.
Unlike Dillingham, Fisch’s ties to Washington aren’t all that deep, making a possible move a bit more feasible.
Why he could stay put: Truthfully, there aren’t many reasons why Fisch could stay at Washington if Michigan were to offer him the job. Over the weekend, he said he “expects” to be at Washington next year amid the rumors about Michigan, but some truth serum might suggest otherwise.
If there is a big reason for Fisch to stay with the Huskies, it could simply be he has bounced around a lot over the last decade. Since being at Michigan, he’s had stops at UCLA, the Los Angeles Rams, the New England Patriots, Arizona and Washington. Perhaps he’d like to take the time to continue building what he has so far. Washington isn’t exactly crying poor in the NIL department either, which helps his case to stay out west.
Missouri HC Eli Drinkwitz
Why he could come to Michigan: Drinkwitz has a pretty solid gig right now at Missouri, a job he’s held since 2020. He’s helped lead the Tigers back to relevance in the SEC, but he still faces an uphill battle for consistent success since schools like Alabama, Georgia, Texas and others will always be more well-off financially and likely have more success on the recruiting trail.
By coming to Michigan, Drinkwitz might be able to combine his coaching acumen with Michigan’s resources and more noticeable brand to help take his career to new heights. It’s not a match you could poke a lot of holes in on paper.
Why he could stay put: While Drinkwitz’s job at Missouri might be difficult, it’s still a position in the SEC, which by itself is something many coaches covet. Furthermore, he’s spent nearly his entire coaching career in the southeast, which might make it tough to pull him out of the region for another job.
In addition to his current position, he wasn’t shy about taking jabs at Michigan in 2023 during the sign-stealing scandal, saying, “(Michigan has) got so many different good things going for them. Some good, some maybe they stole illegally,” and also making a joke about getting a phone call from Connor Stallions during an ESPN interview. While Drinkwitz is a great coach, his past comments could rub some fans the wrong way if he’s hired.
Michigan Interim HC Biff Poggi
Why he could get the job: Poggi is currently the interim head coach and has been on the staff under both Sherrone Moore and Jim Harbaugh. He’s someone players both past and present have raved about, and he could bring exactly the type of stability the program is in need of at the moment. Families of players have made this clear as well in recent days, meaning he has a vote of confidence from those most closely tied to the program.
Why he might not get the job: To be fair, it would make some sense for Poggi to stay around the program in a similar role to the one he’s been serving. He could also be the interim coach for next year if Michigan’s current search amounts to nothing (which seems pretty unlikely), but administration seems dead set on an outside voice to take over. Poggi also does have a stint as a college head coach on his resume, going 6-16 over two years at Charlotte, something that’s unlikely to inspire confidence in fans and donors.
Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter
Why he could come to Michigan: The “other” coordinator on Michigan’s 2023 coaching staff, Minter assembled the best defense in the country in both 2022 and 2023 before following Harbaugh to the NFL. Minter has had a great deal of success as a college coach and has about 10 more years of experience in the college ranks than he does in the pros. By all accounts, he is a great recruiter as well and could have a great deal of success both on the trail and with donors.
As another candidate to fit the “Michigan Man” mold, fans might be pleased if Minter comes back to take over the program and brings his defensive dominance with him.
Why he could stay put: Minter’s circumstances are a bit complicated. For starters, he’s likely a candidate to take a head coaching position in the NFL in the near future, so that could be at the front of his mind.
However, Michigan just had a failed venture with one coordinator from the 2023 team. Are we really sure the Wolverines would want to go back to the well by bringing in Minter? Much like with Poggi, Michigan might be better off getting away from the Harbaugh tree altogether and going with a new voice, particularly one that’s already had some success building a program in the new era of college football like Dillingham, Fisch or Drinkwitz. That’s not to say Minter couldn’t figure it out on the fly, but it would make more sense to go with someone more proven.
