The sudden firing of Michigan Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore thrust the program into a coaching search after top options had already been taken off the board. Now, amid turmoil in the athletic department that could lead to Warde Manuel’s exit, top head-coaching targets Kalen DeBoer and Kenny Dillingham are also off the table.
With the Wolverines’ top two targets sticking with their programs, it’s time to evaluate some other potential Michigan coaching candidates.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores signed head coach Clark Lea to a six-year contract extension in late November, providing him with both a significant raise and an influx of cash to spend on the coaching staff and facilities. However, even with the program’s rise in the SEC, it can’t contend with the resources that Michigan has to offer. So, if the Wolverines are willing to buy Lea out of his situation, it’s worth exploring.
Realistically, going from Moore to Lea would also be a head-coaching upgrade for Michigan. The Vanderbilt coach walked into a program that posted a combined 3-18 record in its previous two seasons and hadn’t won seven games in a campaign since 2013 under James Franklin. Now, the Commodores have won 17 games in the last two years, and Lea has proven he can coach head-to-head with some of the best around the nation despite having a talent disadvantage. Lea would be a B-plus hire for Michigan.
Jeff Brohm, Louisville Cardinals
It should be noted with Jeff Brohm that reporting in December stated the Louisville Cardinals were nearing a contract extension with him. If he hasn’t signed on the dotted line, poaching him from Louisville could be a lot more cost-effective for the Wolverines than pulling Clark Lea away from Vanderbilt.
While Brohm has never had a head-coaching gig of this magnitude, his track record of improvement stretches across three different programs. Western Kentucky never had a season with double-digit wins prior to his arrival and then posted a 30-10 record in his three seasons there. At Purdue, he inherited a program that went 9-39 in the four seasons prior to his arrival, and he immediately delivered a seven-win season before departing with a .514 winning percentage. Likewise at Louisville, the Cardinals posted a .486 winning percentage in the three seasons before he arrived and have since posted a .692 winning percentage.
Plus, the former quarterback could provide mentorship for Bryce Underwood and help the young signal-caller turn his physical tools into more consistent production. Brohm might not be a splash hire, but he would elevate the Wolverines over what they were in the last two seasons with Moore.
Kyle Whittingham, former Utah Utes HC
One thing we haven’t seen mentioned often regarding Kyle Whittingham as a potential Michigan coaching candidate is why he might be a particularly great fit. It seems one of the reasons why Whittingham parted ways with the Utah Utes is that the school decided to partner with a private equity group. Meanwhile, Michigan’s board has been public about its opposition to the Big Ten getting involved with private equity.
Whittingham also is the embodiment of stability for Michigan, something this football program and school seem to be in desperate need of. He boasts a .668 career winning percentage, delivering four seasons with double-digit wins since 2019. Plus, with the deep pockets Michigan offers, he’ll be able to pull some top assistants from both BYU and Utah. Striking out on DeBoer and Dillingham only to land Whittingham as the next Michigan head coach would be a lot like the Penn State coaching search. A bumpy journey doesn’t matter as long as you arrive at the destination: hiring a very good football coach.
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri Tigers
As with Clark Lea, Eliah Drinkwitz received a six-year contract extension in late November after drawing interest from several prominent programs. While he opted to stay with the Missouri Tigers, the Wolverines’ coaching vacancy feels like an opportunity that can’t be passed on.
Would Drinkwitz be a home-run hire? No. However, the Wolverines have put themselves in a position where other top options might say no because of the uncertainty in the athletic department. It’s also worth keeping in mind that Drinkwitz has posted a 29-9 record over the last three seasons, a mark that seemed impossible for a football program that went a combined 35-37 from 2015 to 2020.
