Take one Michigan coaching candidate off the board, as Kenny Dillingham has signed a contract extension to keep him at Arizona State, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
It was reported last Saturday afternoon that Dillingham and Arizona State were “close” to the
extension. Now, it’s official, taking one of Michigan’s top targets off the board.
There was massive smoke last week regarding Dillingham and the Wolverines, so much so that betting oddsmakers had to shut down any/all odds of him being the next head coach in Ann Arbor. With the transfer portal opening up in a week and a half and there being a sense of urgency for Michigan to make a hire as soon as it can, it’s no wonder that the Arizona State Athletic Department wanted to get things locked in with Dillingham as quickly as possible.
This is really unfortunate timing, as Alabama and Kalen DeBoer just won its first-round College Football Playoff game last night at Oklahoma. The Tide’s next game is on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl against Indiana, which means DeBoer would not be made available until after the portal has already opened.
This is a detrimental development and could put Michigan behind the eight ball if it doesn’t act swiftly. Hopefully Warde Manuel and company have a good plan in place and anticipated this possibility.
Stay with Maize n Brew as Michigan’s search for its next head coach continues.
