Coaching Hot Board 1.0

 

Washington coach Kalen DeBoer celebrates with the trophy after the team's win over Oregon in the Pac-12 championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Unfortunately, Michigan is searching for a coach again just two years after their last coaching search. A few names to watch:

1. Kalen DeBoer (Head Coach, Alabama): It was widely reported that DeBoer was interested in the Michigan coaching job back when Jim Harbaugh left, but the timing wasn't going to work. Harbaugh was waiting for the NFL coaching cycle to come around, and college coaches usually can't wait that long to change jobs. DeBoer was 67-3 as a Division II head coach, 12-6 at Fresno State, 25-3 at Washington (with a national championship game loss to Michigan), and 19-7 at Alabama. I think the shine has come off DeBoer a little bit because Alabama has been pretty inconsistent the past two years. He's known best for putting together elite passing offenses, so I'm guessing Bryce Underwood would like the hire, but he would probably change Michigan's offensive identity.
2. Curt Cignetti (Head Coach, Indiana): I'm throwing this name out there because this is someone I would go after, but his recent extension at Indiana may prevent him from leaving. He has essentially put together a team that Michigan fans want to be, which is a balanced offense and an aggressive, tough, fast defense. One image problem he might have is that during his introductory appearance at an Indiana basketball game two years ago, he said "Purdue sucks" . . . before also including Michigan and Ohio State. Indiana is 13-0 and #1 in the College Football Playoff, so I guess there's an argument to be made that the Michigan job would be a step down.
3. Jesse Minter (Defensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers): Minter is a former Michigan defensive coordinator (2022-2023) who helped Michigan earn a national championship in 2023 before heading to the Chargers with Jim Harbaugh. There's really no doubt that he could put together an elite defense, but he has no head coaching experience. One thing I like about Minter is that he's a football lifer, someone who grew up as the son of former Cincinnati head coach Rick Minter. It's kind of like my affinity for players who used to play quarterback; there's a certain baseline of competence and intelligence. Minter might be able to be an NFL head coach next year, so perhaps coming back to college and dealing with all the recruiting and such year-round isn't his ideal.
4. Jedd Fisch (Head Coach, Washington): Fisch is amazingly only 49 years old at this point, even though he looked to me this year that he must be about 60. I feel like the stress of being a head coach over the past few years has taken a toll on his hair color. Regardless, he's had a solid nomadic run as a coach. He hasn't spent more than two seasons anywhere since being an offensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens from 2004-2007. Overall, his record is 31-33, but he's been playing with a talent deficit at Arizona and then at Washington, especially in 2024 after DeBoer raided the roster. Fisch was essentially Michigan's offensive coordinator in 2015-2016, and I liked what he did with somewhat limited talent at that time, too. I think Fisch is a good coach, but he just seems to me like a guy who would go 8-4 at Michigan, and that's not going to make many people happy.
5. Jeff Brohm (Head Coach, Louisville): Brohm is 93-56 overall as a head coach, which feels like a high number of wins for a guy who's 54. He has been head coach at Western Kentucky, Purdue, and now his alma mater, Louisville. Brohm is known for gutsy calls and fun play designs, but regardless of where he's been, he seems to find a way to lose four games per year. In fact, in twelve seasons as a head coach, five of them have ended with four losses. Brohm played quarterback at Louisville, so he may not be willing to abandon his alma mater. I don't think the culture shock would be as high as it was for Rich Rodriguez when he came to Michigan, but the backlash from Louisville could be similar to when Rodriguez left WVU to head to Ann Arbor.
6. Kenny Dillingham (Head Coach, Arizona State): Dillingham is 22-16 as a head coach after three years at Arizona State. An Arizona native, he spent time at Memphis, Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon before going back to his hometown school at ASU. The Aztecs made the College Football Playoff in 2024 and he has them at 8-4 in 2025 with an upcoming appearance in the Sun Bowl. Arizona State is #87 in offense this season and even in the CFP year, they were just #30. Also, he's only 35 years old. I think the Michigan job is probably a little too much, too fast for Dillingham, so I would not be a huge proponent of this hire.
7. Biff Poggi (Interim Head Coach, Michigan): Poggi was a key component of Jim Harbaugh's staff, coming in as somewhat of a consultant. He then left to become head coach at Charlotte, where he was doomed to fail and did. This year he came back to try to help Sherrone Moore, which . . . well, you know. Poggi reportedly has been telling people that he wants the head job at Michigan, but wanting it and getting it are two different things. I don't think a serious program can give Poggi a head coaching job at this point. He seems like a great dude and went 2-0 as Moore's replacement to start the 2025 season, but it would be the gamble of all gambles.