Gilbert Search Firm: Replacing Sherrone Moore
If you are regular reader, you know I usually start these types of columns with a snarky or sarcastic comment about my “in demand” coaching search services. This one feels a bit different, and more serious. I hope everyone involved in this sordid affair is physically safe. While eventually having the ability to pick up the pieces of their lives.
All that being said, one of the blue blood college football jobs is open. I usually spend time talking about whether or not the job is good. Along with specifications of the type of coach the job needs. I’m going to make it quick and direct. It’s not a good job… it’s a great job. Yes, there is currently scandal. However it is well financed, with an overwhelming winning tradition, and only two years removed from a national championship. This is not Baton Rogue level disfunction… not yet at least.
As far as candidate specifications. Once again, I’ll be direct, I believe it is now apparent that you need to make a clean break from the Harbaugh era. Beyond just Moore, the still expanding smoke of suspension and scandal is getting very long and hard to ignore.
The Popular Names
The popular names on everyone’s list who are reasonable options to leave.
Kalen DeBoer (Alabama head Coach)
Why: He wins at high level with efficient and imaginative offense. He has experience in both the conference and region. Knows the lay of the land from his time as offensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan. Also had success as a coordinator at a pre-Cignetti Indiana as well. I could have used italic on the region qualifier. What is the Big Ten region in 2025? It now includes California and the Pacific Northwest. He has had success there as well.
Why Not: If he really wants to leave Alabama (which I don’t think he does) you have to ask why? I believe he is not a big enough personality for the big monied booster crazy schools. Thrives at places like Washington. I could see him being the answer at a place like UCLA. A steady hand that limits outside distraction. You can’t limit distraction in Tuscaloosa. I don’t think you can do that in Ann Arbor anymore either. If you are just looking for “ball coach”, this is arguably the best option on the board. Not sure if is the right culture fit. Wreaks of a ‘better” Jonathan Smith give someone a lifeline type hire. We all saw how that went in East Lansing.
Jedd Fisch (Washington Head Coach)
Why: If the DeBoer mold is what you desire. You can get the man that replaced him. Call it DeBoer-lite. Nowhere near as much success but a similar offensive profile. Turning Arizona into a competitive program was herculean task. Has experience all over the country including a two-year stint as Jim Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator.
Why Not: About that experience… As stated in the intro. While it was fun and unequivocally successful. Michigan probably needs to close the book on the Jim Harbaugh era. I mentioned the extensive and far-reaching geographic resume. Fisch’s career, hasn’t exactly been a case study in stability. Experience with both Harbaugh and Pete Caroll probably isn’t going to be seen as a positive with what’s left of the NCAA enforcement arm.
The Left Fielders
Names out of “left field”. I am not hearing or reading these names anywhere, but they are reasonable options to explore.
Lance Leipold (Kansas Head Coach)
Why: I’m flummoxed that I haven’t heard his name more often in recent cycles. I can only think it has to with his age (61) Is a six… that’s right SIX-time national championship winning head coach at Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater. If you don’t think a big time Division I head coach can come from there. Former Ann Arbor adjacent product Nate Oats would like a word. Leipold has coached in the Big Ten footprint (the traditional one that is) Has won at both Buffalo and Kansas. Can I get a list of coaches who have won at those schools? Hint… it’s not long. This would have a strong Cignetti vibe to it.
Why Not: I don’t see many downsides. Perhaps he is not a big enough personality to keep the recruiting class intact. I’m not sure that should be the sole premise for selecting a coach at this juncture.
Tony Elliot (Virginia Head Coach)
Why: A former head coach sitting in jail cell? Scandals made more for TMZ than Sportscenter? Child’s play compared to what Elliot has waded through to build a winner in Charlottesville. I’m not going to rehash it. It was sad and tragic. Google it (dang Cignetti again) Has national championship experience from his long tenure in Clemson. Is an offensive guy who recruited at high level at Clemson. Ann Arbor and Charlottesville have similar campus mores and cultures. I called it left field for a reason. If you squint, you can see it.
Why Not: Would have been an easier sell if he had won the downtrodden ACC this year. Virtually no experience in the Midwest region.
Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens Off Coordinator)
Why: Not the Army coach Jeff, but his cousin with the better resume. If you insist on keeping some ties to Harbaugh tree. This might just be distant enough. Midwest roots with a lot of Michigan connections. A wealth big time college experience and won back-to-back national championships as Georgia’s offensive coordinator. Followed that up by aiding the Lamar Jackson blow up. Has college head coaching experience at Southern Miss. It’s a varied and impressive resume that hits much of Michigan’s points of need.
Why Not: While he has head college coaching experience, it’s only three years at a non-power five level. If you are just going off the resumes, this could be an older Dan Lanning. However it also has a little Marc Trestman vibe to it as well.
Bill O’Brien (Boston College Head Coach)
Why: Like Elliot, the Wolverines current scandal pales in comparison to what O’Brien took on at Penn St. It wasn’t the smoothest ride, but he was a winning coach in NFL. No one else in this candidate pool can claim that. Let me be clear, I don’t particularly like this. However, I wonder if a certain alum who wore #10 might be on board. If you are confused, pull up chair kids. Tom Brady wore #10 at Michigan. If he wants his former quarterback coach to have the job… well you might have to listen.
Why Not: He got let go in Houston despite his success for a reason. Appeared to be cut from the difficult Belichik coaching tree mold. Things aren’t going gangbusters right at BC at the moment. This would not win the press conference.
The Choice
It’s not going to be a popular choice. People really seem to just not like this individual right now. However I am 44 years old. Putting me at an impressionable age for the Nick Saban era at Michigan State. You want to talk about someone who rubbed people the wrong way? Michigan should want the best coach with the best resume. If he happens to have a wealth of Mitten experience, that can only help. That man is…
Brian Kelly (unemployed)
Why: Mike Tomlin likes to stay “the standard is the standard” Still not sure what that means, but I’m going to use it. The ‘resume is the resume”. Unless you are getting Saban, Dabo, or Kirby. Who has the better resume? Do you remember what Notre Dame was before he took it? Kelly did not fit in Louisiana, and anyone could see that. You can label Kelly with a litany of negative things at the moment. Unintelligent is not one of them. He will get what Michigan is. Just like he was able crack the code in South Bend. He spent much of his adult life in Michigan. He will be motivated to restore his reputation. He doesn’t want to be remembered as Midwest Ed Orgeron. He’s too proud. Lastly, if you believe Bryce Underwood is vital to the immediate future of the program. Kelly is only other coach on this list that has Underwood committed to. At 64, it might only be a short term fix, but a fix in some form is what the Wolverines need right now.
Why Not: Not the most popular guy at the moment. Once again, this is big time college football. If that is the worst thing you can say about a guy….
