It has been 10 days since Michigan fired football coach Sherrone Moore with cause. Since that day, rumors have been flying around as to who could replace Moore. Michigan is a tremendous job and arguably the top job this coaching cycle.
Biff Poggi has been named the interim coach. He will lead the Wolverines into the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on December 31 against Texas out of the SEC. It is unlikely that Poggi has the interim tag removed, but anything is possible. However, one name that has often been linked to the position appears to no longer be a choice in Ann Arbor.
Arizona State Locks Up Kenny Dillingham to Contract Extension
Names have been floated about, but one coach who was tabbed as “taylor-maid” for the position by Josh Pate is Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham. On an episode of ‘Get Up’ on ESPN last week, Pate explained his reason why Dillingham should be Michigan’s top target.
“It is desirable, but they’ve got to get Michigan figured out,” Pate said of Friday morning’s episode of ‘Get Up’ on ESPN. “I said yesterday, it seems like five years ago, but I said yesterday that before Michigan operated a coaching search, they needed to figure out what Michigan was. That’s kind of reflected in the marketplace of candidates. But I feel kind of strongly about this… that job looks tailor-made for a guy like Kenny Dillingham. I know other names will be thrown out, but I’m telling you, Kenny Dillingham for most college football fans is a guy who they’ve heard sound bites from.”
You can end the discussion about Dillingham and Michigan. According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, he agreed to a new contract to remain in Tempe. The 35-year-old will earn an average of $7.5 million per year under his new contract, according to Thamel.
“Sources: Kenny Dillingham has signed a new contract at Arizona State, which will average $7.5 million over the course of the deal. The staff salary pool is up to $11 million, which puts it near the top of the Big 12,” Thamel wrote on X.
Where Does Michigan Go From Here?
The last 12 hours have been nothing but bad news for Michigan. On Friday, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who has been linked to the job, saw his team fall behind 17-0 to Oklahoma in the first half of their College Football Playoff game. However, the Crimson Tide outscored the Sooners, 34-7, to advance with a 34-24 victory. That win takes him out of the running for the job at Michigan.
That’s two names you can cross off the list for the Wolverines. DeBoer and Dillingham. Where does Michigan go now? Jeff Brohm at Louisville or Clark Lea at Vanderbilt are options. They feel like long shots given their situations at their current schools. What about former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham? He’s 66 years old, but wouldn’t be a long-term answer. More of a place-holder for a year or two. Michigan might not want to go that route.
If there is one thing this coaching cycle has told us, expect the unexpected. Anything can happen at any point. For Michigan, this isn’t the news they wanted to hear early on a Saturday morning.
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