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!
27 comments:
First, I do not agree that the fan base is dictating who they go after or don't go after. If they thought Brohm was a serious candidate then I believe they would've went after him. It's like saying Jimmy endorsed Sheronne so Warde went with him. That's garbage and it's Warde's job to maybe listen, but get the best candidate and we know how that went. Michigan is a joke and we look bad no matter what so they need the right person. I do agree with Bob on Wittingham being a solid coach, but he's not a midwest guy. It may not matter as Jason Eck is more of a west coast guy and he can coach.
Either way, we as fans have no control and eventually we will have a new coach but does anyone have faith in Michigan to get this right?
I saw this the other day about Monken;
Even with all of the success, Monken still wanted to make the move back to the NFL. Seth Emerson of The Athletic explained the decision, citing the daily grind of a college job. Offensive game planning and development is just a fraction of the job description, having to recruit on a 24/7 basis.
Emerson made it sound like Monken was ready for a lighter load. “Todd Monken, like any coaches that go NFL to college, discover they have a lot more on their plate in college,” Emerson said during an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show. “The recruiting and all other facets that come with it, make it a real 52-week job… The NFL, you got more off time. You can just coach. You have to do some draft evaluation… I think Todd Monken was ready to go back.”
My take...Whittingham as HC, Monken as OC.
Let's be real here, Michigan's choices are very, very limited. It's not like we can go into a New Car lot (for coaches) and choose which car we want. There's a lot of moving parts in this search and any key decision maker can throw a monkey wrench into the workings to stop things. At this stage of the game, it's NOT going to be a perfect candidate, and we don't see coaches lined up outside fighting to be our next coach.
"If" they are still hoping for DeBoer (fine) then that's got to mean that they have to have a solid, legitimate, ink on paper contract already in hand that he's coming, and they are waiting for their season to end, and they've would have had to give the players a little nudge that something big is coming, if not, we're dealing with a clown Sh*t show.
What I will suggest is that no matter who they eventually hire, they've got to do their full due diligence, do the right thing, because it's the right thing and then...do it right! With that being said, it just might mean, the best that we can do at this time with their current option is a Kyle Whittingham (or a Jeff Brohm). Even if that sucks, that might be just where we are. Moreover, it doesn't help with Poggi throwing the program under the bus and apparently strongly suggesting to the kids and parents that maybe they might not come back after Christmas.
The bottom line is this, when the smoke clears and the dust settles, we will have to support whomever the new coach is because they will be driving the Michigan bus; knowing, that they will be signed at least for about 3-5 years. Michigan's program will either be moving upward or declining after this hire. That is why, Michigan has got to do this thing right, regardless of the transport portal opening. IMHO!!!
I think Kyle Whittingham is probably the coach we need right now into a transition of going after a big name in 3-5 years. He’s a proven winner at a school that’s hard to recruit, runs a similar toughness on defense and run game program with the players we have on the roster now, and can be a stabilizing force for the program to get back on its feet. I think we all know Warde is on borrowed time and should be out the door soon. Kyle won’t care as a younger coach given an AD that didn’t hire him could cause issues. Is he the long term answer? No, given his age, but we’re living in present times and he’s probably the right man at the right time for the current situation to put this program back to a stable foundation. He’ll just need to bring in great coordinators and with Michigan’s resources that should not be a problem. Just my two cents. Go Blue!!
I think getting the Ravens OC would be better..
Kyle Whittingham! YES!! Thank you, Santa for making my Christmas. Here's what I like-
1. Experience. The guy is a consumate pro. He knows how to run a program at a very high level, and has done it over an extended period. You wont be yelling at your TV over stupid moves made in a game, nor will he be afraid to bench someone deserving to be benched. No off field scandles or embarrassing moments. A trusted, solidifying figure. Exactly what this program needs.
2. He knows the game. Whittingham played in the NFL and has coached his way up, handling various roles before becoming a H.C. This is someone that has earned what he's accomplished. No 3rd base guy here.
3. Winner. Whittingham has a Hall of Fame winning percentage, and has played against the toughest competition in college football. He's compiled MULTIPLE conference championships. And this is at Utah, not really a classic football destination. Urban Meyer has called Whittingham "The best coach in college football."
This is a home run hire. I couldn't be happier. Lets go!!!
Coordinators dont necessarily make good head coaches. Two entirely different roles. Too risky.
Whittingham will get help learning the midwest for recruiting, but doors will open fast for him when you have a Hall of Fame winning percentage. He also brings west coast ties w him. Tons of talent on the coast, including Michigan's latest QB commit.
That's good!
Excellent points.
100% behind Kyle Whittingham, a tough & discipline coach that frankly is the type of coach Michigan needs at this juncture of missteps this program has lately endured. Retaining players & filling out his staff with top assistances is a must and from I've already heard it's already happening. Go Blue!
The Crain & Co., podcast are announcing that the Kyle Whittingham hiring is "official." They usually are very careful about what they announce so it's something that we should take as a strong probability. We don't know if Utah will allow him to coach the Utah bowl game against Nebraska. In any case, if this is true, I'm giving my full support to the new coach. IMHO!!!
That all may or may not be true. A lot of these 'experts' on TV are just talking heads. I'd still give Monken a call and make him say no.
He may be, but has very limited head coach experience at Southern Miss and wasn't that successful,. While he's been a great coordinator at a top school and the NFL he doesn't have experience running the show. In the current climate at Michigan head coach experience is a big deal. Sure, I wish Kalen Deboer would come and would even go with Minter, albeit a coordinator, if he wanted to come back, but think both those ships have sailed as they have better positions/options in the present time. So unless John Harbaugh somehow said yes, Whittingham is likely next best proven head coach target we can hire.
Whittingham is a future Hall of Fame head coach. Nothing "sucks" about that.
VOR: Due Diligence is right. A few folks here caught on early with Harbaugh's antics > he recommended Moore {but if he was so great why did not Jimmy take him with him!!}. I did not see the light until this year.
Mastermind, I agree with you and with NIL and portal it's about money. Kids can leave, but I don't see a ton because they are getting paid by Michigan. Go nail the portal like Texas Tech did. If Wittingham is the guy, he's a proven tough nosed coach so we can be very dangerous next year.
ScottyD: You're making a good point. In hindsight, Sherrone Moore being a big mistake is a Duhh answer. He should have never been recommended for that position. However, keep in mind Harbaugh took so many of the best staff with him to the NFL. Plus, he took the physical development coach with him. Then when you consider that a number of those players graduated or left for the NFL, that would have been somewhat of a rebuild for any coach following up, however, Moore's hiring didn't help Michigan's cause at all. IMHO!!!
I like Kyle as a hc. And just to be safe I checked Kyle Whittingham's Instagram. The only women he follows are his wife and daughters and he hasn't posted in over 10 years. :)
Utah oc Jason Beck is expected to be the target for Kyle Whittingham's OC job at Michigan, per sources at CBSSports. Led by Beck, Utah ranks fifth nationally in scoring with an average of 41.1 points per game.
Kyle should have been #1 the whole time! Fantastic coach and already has UM mentality. He brings a stellar rep as a man of integrity and character….which this program needs badly. And to your worries about recruiting, have you not looked at the recruits Harbs and Moore were bringing in!!?? They were from everywhere but the Midwest so please. We are back to the playoffs in year 2, book it!
Testify! Great coach who is an even better man! Should have been #1 option the whole time.
Yep. Needs to keep Biff to stop the hemorrhaging. Keep Alford. The rest are dispensable. We are back in playoffs by year 2!
And oh the irony! Former assistant under Urban will be the new Suckeye slayer!
Lol Love it!
41 pts per game! That warms my heart.
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