Michigan Friday: Crowd Sourcing Michigan Coaching Candidates

There is a unique trend going on across Michigan's head coaching search and it happens to deal with insider speculation on candidates for the Michigan job.   I believe the search firm TurnKey is planting candidates names to insiders to see what the reaction will be from the fan base.  For example:  Jeff Brohm.  

All the insiders had the same information and Sam Webb was the first to go public with it.   The Michigan Fan base lost their collectives minds on Jeff being the next Michigan coach.  That was a couple days before Christmas, now you don't even hear his name in consideration any longer.  I believe the Michigan Fan base completely derailed his candidacy. Which is a good thing.  

The next two names are guys I can live with but both have their AARP cards. 

1.  The name today is Kyle Whittingham.  This is not a new name but one this morning  has become a bit hotter as ESPN reports he is now the focus of the search.   Let's be clear, 1- he is not the only focus of the search and 2- ESPN is not close to the Michigan program and would only being getting information from TurnKey.   Which proves my point above!    Kyle is a good coach but Utah pushed him out.  He is not a midwest guy and I think would struggle with the pressure of this role and struggle in recruiting.  The guy has won a lot of games but if you pull back the curtain, I don't think its a fit at all.   Good guy, Good Coach, Not a Fit.  Go coach in the Mountain West or the new PAC whatever. 

2.  The name the Michigan fan base is most excited about is Ravens OC Todd Monken.  Now this would be a good hire.  Todd has head coaching experience in college, won 2 National Championships at Georgia as the OC, and learned under Kirby Smart and John Harbaugh.  Yes, please!   The Ravens could be eliminated from the playoffs as early as this weekend as Lamar Jackson is not playing due to injury.  

The thinking is that Turnkey was vetting John Harbaugh's interest in the job and he said, no thanks but Todd would be a great candidate for the job.   Even if the Ravens and John separate this off season, the expectation is John will stay in the NFL.  

Todd is 59 and Kyle is 66.  I'm not a big fan of failing up and that is what Kyle would be doing by getting pushed out of Utah and landing the Michigan job.  I'm still a fan of New Mexico's Jason Eck but give me Todd Monken today and all his coaching connections and recruiting background and lets roll for the next 10 years.  

In my opinion, Todd is the last home run hire left of the board.  There are still rumblings that DeBoer wants the job but the timing is just troublesome due to Alabama playing on New Years Day.  There would have to be more then a hand shake agreement to wait that long or even longer if Bama keeps winning. 

So...

1. We have a voice as a Michigan collective fan base. 

2. If there is a candidate your feeling strongly for or against, let your voice be heard!

3. Let's hope there are competent individuals leading this search that will make the right decision.

4. Remember what I said early on, only trust a few individuals on this search.  If they are not close to the Michigan program everyday.  Discount that information.

Update: Seems Kyle is getting a ton of run this morning.  I'm still skeptical that he is the only horse in the race.  The only upside is he is hireable today.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and here we go again! 

Wolverine Wednesday: What Are We Doing?

Are you at a loss of words when it comes to Michigan's Football program right now? I sure feel that way.  

Jeff Brohm is a terrible candidate for the head coach at Michigan, he is Rich Rod part 2.  The guy can coach offense and develop QB's.  If he wants to be the Michigan OC, I would welcome him with open arms.  His team beat Toledo by 5 points in the Boca Bean Bowl yesterday.  His family is all over the Louisville program and Michigan got a negative feedback about his brother from Purdue.   This is a disaster in waiting if Michigan hires him.   Louisville has the 47th ranked recruiting class, right behind MSU.  Enough said.  I'm fairly confident the  fan outcry killed his candidacy yesterday as his team snuck by Toledo in the Boca Bowl. 

I know this is not a narrative you will hear at many blogs, etc.  But the Michigan job is different and a very stressful role.  You have a Million fans that want you to succeeded and about 10M that wants you to fail. Bo had a heart condition, Gary went on a Southfield bender, Lloyd got out before it got to him, RR flamed out not fitting in, Hoke was way over his head, Jimmy knew the assignment but needed a long runway, and Sherrone was the wrong hire from the jump and lost his mind.  This job is not for everyone and in fact it's not for most.  Outside of Alabama and maybe Ohio State, there is not a more stressful role in college football.   Coaching Utah or Purdue is not a comparison by any measure.   Which means there isn't any experience that prepares you for this role at any stop in college football.   

Ok, Bob, what should Michigan do then?

1. Warde is on borrowed time.  I don't care when you let him go, but he should not be running this coaching search.   

2. The big names are not coming to Michigan right now, so if you are going to risk something look at guys with high upsides.  Not guys that coached at Purdue and WKU.  They also have to be good people.

3. The IU DC and Georgia DC are very good coaches, maybe they should have a shot.  Still they won't be ready for this job.  I lean more to Georgia then IU for the proper comp.  This strategy worked well for Oregon. 

4.  If your going to hire a college head coach,Ack or Key would be my choices.  Kyle is too old and just had a strange Utah exit, Brohm is clearly not a fit in A2, these guys can coach, and seem to love football.  If they go this route, they really need to keep Biff.  He is very important to the success of this program but should only be a "break glass" candidate.  He seems like he already has one foot in retirement and new house in Boca. 

5. JESSE MINTER does not seem like a candidate because his hire might piss off the NCAA or U of M wants to get away from the Harbaugh era.  Either way, I keep reading he will be the #1 candidate in the NFL.  Hard to see guys like Coach Mac and Minter do so well in the NFL and not in Ann Arbor.  He doesn't have head coaching experience of course but he knows the environment and if you give him a young strong OC, that combo would be hard to beat. 

• Biff doesn't know who is going to make the trip to Orlando after saying they will only have 3 opt outs.   Strange times.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  No post on Thursday unless something happens.  

Michigan Tuesday: Disaster Brewing

As we expected, Warde is fumbling and bumbling this coaching search.  He met with the team on Monday and wants to have a head coach in place by the Citrus Exhibition against Texas.    So the possibility of some hand shake agreement with DeBoer is now dead and Michigan is sorting through Plan B options.  Biff clearly wants the job and says he is going to clean up the 5 year mess.   It's a mess alright.  

Sam Webb is also saying stuff.  He said that Dillingham played Michigan, had a interview set up on Saturday which he cancelled after leveraging Michigan for a raise.   He seems to understand the Agents playbook very well.   The next step in the playbook is to leverage an NFL opening.  

Sam has also been saying that Jeff Brohm is a strong candidate and now expects an answer either way on or before Christmas Eve as his Louisville Cardinals play in the Boca Bowl today at 2:00 against Toledo.  

Just so I understand this, Michigan is going to hire a coach that is playing in the Boca Bowl that is offering free tickets if you donate a can of beans to charity?  MENTAL WARDE 

Below is Jeff's record with Western Kentucky, Purdue, and Louisville.  Those are some pretty nice Bowl Wins in there. What the Hell Are We Doing?

Year    Team   Overall   Conference   Standing  Bowl

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Conference USA) (2014–2016)

2014 8–5     4–4    3rd (East)        W Bahamas

2015 12–2    8–0 1st (East) W Miami Beach

2016 10–3    7–1 T–1st (East)  Boca Raton‡

Western Kentucky: 30–10 19–5

Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten)  (2017–2022)

2017 7–6 4–5 T–3rd (West)      W Foster Farms

2018 6–7 5–4 T–2nd (West)       L Music City

2019 4–8 3–6 T–5th (West)

2020 2–4 2–4 6th (West)

2021 9–4 6–3 T–2nd (West)      W Music City

2022 8–5 6–3 1st (West)       Citrus*

Purdue: 36–34 26–25

Louisville Cardinals (ACC) (2023–present)

2023 10–4 7–1 2nd      L Holiday     

2024  9–4 5–3 T–4th     W Sun

2025 8–4 4–4 T–7th    TBD Boca Raton

Jeff is known as a good offensive mind but he is also known to be a bit nuts.  We have all seen that clip of his playing days in the XFL.  I'm sorry this would be a a terrible hire.  He is nowhere near a fit for Ann Arbor.  What is his best win, this year over Miami?

Folks, I'm at a point where Michigan should fire Warde, hire Jason Eck, ask Biff to stay, keep RB's coach Tony Alford, DL coach Big Lou, and OL coach Grant Newsome.  Hire a new young OC and a new young DC and start cleaning up this mess. 

Your thought might be, Jason who?  I get it.  He has turned around 2 dead programs very quickly.  Gave Michigan all they wanted in the opener and his known as great coach and a better person.  If Michigan is going to take a risk, get ahead of the curve, hire a guy that will be a hot candidate next year and lets start putting the pieces back together that Warde has destroyed.  

Michigan Monday: Mental Warde

The Michigan fan base is losing its mind.  The community as a whole is very much staring to believe Warde Manuel will not be successful in finding Michigan's next Football Head Coach.  If Warde had an approval rating like a sitting US President, it would be a negative number.  Warde and his search firm TurnKey, either has an ace up their sleeve or has completely bungled this coaching search.   

Alabama wins on Friday night and the common thinking was Michigan would turn their attention from DeBoer to ASU's Dillingham.  DeBoer's Alabama doesn't play again until 1/1 and the portal opens the next day.  Michigan wanted a new coach in role prior to that date.   The problem was Michigan was either not ready to offer Kenny on Friday night or wasn't ever going to.  He then signs an extension with ASU Saturday morning.  All signs pointed to him not only wanting the Michigan job but also accepting an offer.  

So now what?

Your guess is as good as mine.  There were two candidates in my mind and it seems Michigan has struck out on both.  There is also nothing leaking out, the insiders know nothing.  The rest of the candidate pool is not exciting and it seems Michigan is headed to Biff as a short term option with maybe a reset next year.  Drink called Michigan's NC fraudulent and has never done anything worth while in the SEC, Kyle Whittingham is 66, he has won a lot of games but is way past his prime (Utah pushed him out for a reason), Who knows what the situation is with Jedd, Vandy's head coach would be interesting Clark Lea. I don't care for Jeff Brohm at all (is Michigan hiring him on his Purdue and Louisville experience?), if your going to roll the dice maybe New Mexico's Jason Ack is worth a call?  Ack seems like a good dude and a very good coach.   

Why isn't Jesse Minter considered more?  I know he doesn't have head coaching experience but damn the NFL is going to hire him (as a head coach) if Michigan doesn't. Biff could keep the boat a float until Jesse is ready to take over.  

In my mind, it was a huge mistake to have a top candidate that wanted the job and Michigan was either slow playing him or wasn't interested at all.  Chip has already jumped ship and this search looks nowhere near ending.  

The flip side where Warde is competent and TurnKey knows what they are doing.  I know this is a stretch but hang with me for a second. 

1. Michigan has some hand shake agreement with DeBoer that he will 100% come to Michigan after Alabama's playoff run.  If that is true, waiting until 10 days is not a killer for right hire.  Though hiring Bama's coach in any situation will be difficult, mostly after a playoff run.   Very high risk! 

2. ASU extension doesn't scare Michigan or the money cannon.  If Michigan wants Kenny today, maybe they make him an offer he can't refuse. 

3. There is some high profile candidate they have locked up that can't start for awhile.  An example would be John Harbaugh or something. 

This whole debacle has me remembering when "Sailboat" Bill Martin was on his boat without a functioning cell phone when Les Miles wanted a Michigan offer. 

At least we have a great Basketball Team to take our mind of this and the Lions.  

Speaking of the Lions, Dan Campbell is doing his best to put me in a Mental Warde.  I love how aggressive he is, but he maybe stupidly aggressive.  Take the points Dan!  I also don't understand how this team in the off season or at the trade deadline didn't improve its defense at all.  You can't take guys off the street and win in the NFL.   The Lions might have missed their window.  Which would be the only window of my lifetime. 

• Opts out for the Citrus Exhibition include: Barham, Derrick Moore, and El-Hadi.  

• Nick Sheridan the former Michigan QB will be MSU's OC 

• Michigan Basketball with another impressive effort on Sunday afternoon.  Fun Hack - Check your listings for the NBC Sports Network, it was once dead but its back and many times it has Peacock games without needing a subscription to Peacock.  That was a nice bonus for the Michigan game yesterday!