Major Head Coach Labeled ‘Tailor-Made’ to Replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Major Head Coach Labeled ‘Tailor-Made’ to Replace Sherrone Moore at Michigan

Nobody was expecting this season to hold such a disappointment for the Michigan Wolverines after what had been a fairly successful 9-3 season, especially with a highly touted freshman quarterback under center. But the program got involved in an ugly scandal again.

Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore was dismissed after an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a staffer and subsequently arrested and charged with third-degree home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and breaking and entering, according to a report in The Athletic.

Authorities allege he entered a woman’s apartment, threatened self-harm and made intimidating statements.

After such a shocking revelation, Michigan will be desperately willing to move past this mess as quickly as possible, and it begins with a proper coaching search. Multiple names have come forth but one stood out, according to college football analyst Josh Pate.

During Friday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Pate made a forceful case for a coach he sees as an ideal fit in Ann Arbor. Speaking with host Mike Greenberg, Pate said Michigan’s vacancy “looks tailor-made for a guy like Kenny Dillingham,” arguing the Arizona State Sun Devils head coach checks boxes Michigan has struggled to fill.

Dillingham guided the Sun Devils to an 8-4 record in 2025 and led them to the College Football Playoff in 2024, where they eventually lost to the Texas Longhorns in double overtime. To Pate, that résumé matters more than brand-name appeal.

“I’ve watched Kenny Dillingham operate in Dan Lanning’s building up at Oregon and fit in very seamlessly,” Pate added. “But also look what he’s done with the quarterback position and what Michigan has not been able to do with the quarterback position. Look at the toughness his teams play with.”

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham walks the field before a game against the Arizona Wildcats.

That doesn’t mean Michigan should limit its reach. Pate acknowledged Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer as another candidate worth pursuing. Still, he dismissed speculation that DeBoer is unhappy in Tuscaloosa, calling it an internet-driven “misnomer.”

DeBoer himself also revealed to the press that he and his family are very happy where he is, so a Michigan move seems unlikely. But things can change very fast in the college scene, as they did for former Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin, who is now with the LSU Tigers.

For now, Pate’s endorsement has reshaped the conversation. While the search continues, Kenny Dillingham has emerged as more than a fresh name. In Pate’s view, he’s the right one for what Michigan needs next.

Related: Kalen Deboer Crashes Players Meeting to Jolt Alabama

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos