Five candidates to replace Jim Harbaugh at Michigan
With coach Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the Los Angeles Chargers, here are five names to replace him in Ann Arbor. But there might only be one name that’s heavily considered and he’s first on our list:
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SHERRONE MOORE
When Harbaugh was sidelined twice this season for various infractions, it was Moore who took over the team, did a phenomenal job leading the Wolverines through some tough times, big wins and difficult environments including at Penn State and Moore has been the coach Harbaugh has leaned on the most.
The players rallied around him and he would be loved in the locker room but there are certainly risks by handing over the keys to Moore to run the Michigan program.
He’s never been a head coach before and has only been the offensive coordinator for a short time. Does he have name recognition with elite national recruits who are looking to play for the Wolverines? What exactly was his involvement in the Connor Stalions situation, if any, or would the university want to start anew with a coach who wasn’t inside the program when that was going on?
Moore seems very much like the likely replacement. But there are serious questions to be answered as well as the Wolverines look to replace Harbaugh, who brought a national title back to Ann Arbor.
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JESSE MINTER
Minter is qualified, he’s been a defensive coordinator at multiple stops, he has NFL coaching experience that he could sell on the recruiting trail and at some point he looks destined to be a head coach somewhere.
But I just don’t see this happening. How would Michigan massage it with Moore - and keep him with the Wolverines - if he’s passed over for Michigan’s defensive coordinator who wasn’t in charge of shepherding the program through half this season when Harbaugh was sidelined?
Minter would be a great, qualified candidate but many of the same Stalions questions would arise during his vetting. Those answers remain unclear. My guess is that if Michigan is going to stay in-house to make the hire, it would be Moore’s first.
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BRIAN KELLY
Kelly has been a coach since 1983 and until 2022, all of his experience is in the Midwest with most of his time spent in the state of Michigan. He’s the winningest coach ever at Notre Dame and many believe he eventually left the Irish to coach LSU where he would have the recruiting capabilities to win a national title. That’s just way tougher with the Irish.
But Michigan has proven this season it’s capable of going all the way and the Wolverines went to the College Football Playoff two seasons ago but blew it to TCU. Getting back to the Midwest could be intriguing to Kelly but only to a program that can actually with a championship.
Would Michigan be responsive if Kelly reaches out?
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LANCE LEIPOLD
Leipold has said that the plan is for Kansas to be the last job he has but Michigan is Michigan and if they come calling then things could get really interesting.
He’s a phenomenal coach who took Kansas from 2-10 to 9-4 in only three seasons, the Jayhawks have become a legitimately tough program to beat and now recruiting is picking up as well.
If Michigan is looking for a steady hand who can keep the program going - Leipold can certainly win as he’s proven through a long career at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Buffalo and now Kansas - then he could be a very legitimate option.
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MATT CAMPBELL
What else can Campbell do at Iowa State? Some shine has come off his star in recent years as he’s not being mentioned for every job across the country but Campbell has still proven to be an excellent coach one wonders what he could accomplish at an elite program like Michigan.
Campbell is 53-48 with the Cyclones but only has two losing seasons in eight in Ames so he’s a proven winner who could be way better and way more productive if given the keys to a Ferrari like the Wolverines.