Updated hot board: Where our Michigan coaching search stands

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While the Sherrone Moore story continues to dominate the headlines, Michigan football does still need a new head coach for the 2026 season. We put out our shortlist of early candidates, and while that hasn't changed much since day one (Wednesday). But with some of those names, and others, starting to emerge for the Wolverines, it's time to somewhat retool the list.

It's no secret that Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is among the Wolverines' top candidates, but we didn't include Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham in our hours-after list of potential options (we went with SMU's Rhett Lashlee instead). The list of candidates goes longer than those two, however, even if most aren't likely to be under strong consideration. So, let's go through the names that are out there and give some thoughts.

Kalen DeBoer – Alabama

DeBoer is almost certainly the top target for Michigan football at this juncture. He reportedly wanted the Michigan football job last time around, but Jim Harbaugh hadn't yet made his NFL decision, so DeBoer made the decision to take the Alabama job instead (not a bad call by any means).

It's been an up-and-down in Tuscaloosa. On one hand, he's won some huge games, like the past two regular-season games against Georgia. But he's also lost some that many didn't expect (two straight to Oklahoma, one to Michigan). The Crimson Tide fans appear to be now behind him, even if 10-2 seasons aren't what's expected, but that hasn't always been the case. However, at the moment, Alabama is in the playoff, and if it avenges its regular-season loss to the Sooners, then he would not be able to be hired as quickly — that is, assuming he would do more than even listen to Michigan's pitch. And we do believe he would at least listen. But would that be enough?

Pros:

  • Has an incredible track record everywhere he's gone. He's 123-19 in his head coaching tenure, and he's been masterful, moving from Fresno State to Washington, but perhaps less so at Alabama.
  • Would pair well with the young offensive pieces, particularly in the pass game. He's overseen the careers of Jake Haener, Michael Penix Jr., Jalen Milroe, and now Ty Simpson. He's had high-flying wideouts in his time as well, including Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, and Ryan Williams.
  • Could be a stabilizing force, the adult in the room, and a serious presence after the debacle that was Sherrone Moore.
  • Originally from South Dakota, but cut his teeth at Eastern Michigan (OC/QB, 2014-16) and Indiana (OC/QB, 2019). So he's familiar with Ann Arbor (well, Ypsilanti) and the Big Ten.
  • Solid recruiter who has fully taken advantage of the Alabama ecosystem.

Cons:

  • Has never had much of a run game. COVID year for Michigan aside, the Wolverines' production on the ground has been significantly more prolific than anything DeBoer has ever overseen. Barring a philosophy change on his end, it would be a bit of a schematic shift for Michigan, and that could also affect the current and incoming personnel.
  • While he's elevated teams and has won games that many didn't expect, he hasn't been a killer in the same vein as some of his elite contemporaries.
  • Hasn't been a head coach for terribly long, getting his first opportunity at Fresno State in 2020.
  • Might have to wait to even interview him, let alone land him, with Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State

The new addition to our list, he may now be the odds-on favorite (literally — the betting sites shut down the odds due to so much money coming in on him on Friday). An Arizona State alum with an ASU alum wife, Dillingham is a bit of an offensive guru. He tore his ACL in high school, and got into coaching right away instead of pursuing a rehab and eventually playing path. He's risen sharply through the ranks, going from an offensive assistant during his time in school (2014-15), and was a graduate assistant at Memphis for one year (2016) before becoming the quarterbacks and tight ends coach the next year and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the following year. He then replaced current Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey as Auburn's OC the following season before moving to Florida State for two years (offensive coordinator). He was Dan Lanning's first offensive coordinator in Eugene and did wonders with Bo Nix, who had struggled previously at Auburn.

If Michigan wants him, and smoke is building here, it could have him right away, with the Sun Devils not in the College Football Playoff. And there's some rumbling that this could happen sooner than later.

Pros:

  • Is much more ideologically aligned with what Michigan football has been trying to do this year. He's had high-flying offenses that are prolific running the football while having an explosive passing game. He would pair well with both Bryce Underwood and the cadre of running backs. He produces physical football teams and has shown that he can go toe-to-toe with teams that have more talent.
  • He's been a coordinator or head coach much longer than even Sherrone Moore had been, so he still has a lot of high-level experience. That includes being in high-pressure jobs. He was the offensive coordinator at Auburn in 2019 and it won the Iron Bowl that year. He was the OC at Oregon in 2022, and outside of the Georgia game that year, his offense performed very well.
  • He's produced receivers, something Michigan has been lacking in recent years. Jordyn Tyson is expected to be a top-tier NFL draft pick this year.
  • He inherited a tough situation at a tough place in Arizona State. He took over for Herm Edwards, with the Sun Devils under NCAA probation, with vacated wins, and recruiting restrictions.
  • Would be available right away.

Cons:

  • At 35, he's quite young, and he's only been a head coach for three years, with one elite season under his belt.
  • In three seasons as a head coach, he's 22-16; however, it can be seen that he's built a program, especially considering the circumstances he's taken over, and the many disadvantages ASU systematically has on top of that.

Jedd Fisch – Washington

Michigan fans became familiar with Fisch first-hand, with him operating as Jim Harbaugh's pass game coordinator in 2015-16, his first two years in Ann Arbor. Fisch departed Ann Arbor to become the bona fide UCLA offensive coordinator (he previously had coordinator experience in both college and the NFL). After things fell apart with the Bruins (as a whole), he ended up with the LA Rams as an offensive assistant before becoming the New England Patriots quarterbacks coach in 2020 under Bill Belichick. He parlayed that into the head coaching gig at Arizona, where he elevated an also-ran program into not just a competitive team, but one no one wanted to see on the schedule. Noah Fifita rose to prominence as the QB in his system.

Fisch replaced Kalen DeBoer in Seattle, and though his record leaves a bit to be desired, he took over a Washington team that lost nearly everyone from the College Football Playoff run and has kept the Huskies competitive.

Pros:

  • Excellent offensive mind that could pair well with the personnel and take it to the next level.
  • Knows Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan and understands the academic constraints.
  • Has shown that he can build a program in a quick amount of time.
  • Perhaps not the splash hire, but would likely be a stable one, which the program sorely needs.
  • Has an extensive coaching background, having been an offensive coordinator at multiple NFL teams and college teams, alike, before becoming a head coach.

Cons:

  • While he took over a moribund team at Arizona and a rebuild in Washington, has only beaten one ranked team and hasn't shown that he can consistently punch above his weight class.
  • Though would be a good, stable hire, isn't the type of splash that the Michigan football fanbase would be hoping for.

Clark Lea – Vanderbilt

Another alum of the school he's coaching, Lea has just been given a contract extension. He's done the unthinkable, having turned around the one school in the SEC that was seen as not just a bottom-feeder in the conference, but in the entire Power Four. With Diego Pavia leading the charge at quarterback, Lea has a prolific pass game, and just recently started running the football with impunity. He shocked the world by beating the Kalen DeBoer-led Crimson Tide last year, and had the Commodores knocking on the doorstep of a College Football Playoff bid this year with a 10-2 season. His offenses have been very good, but his defenses have left something to be desired. But he's an incredible recruiter, having just flipped the No. 1 quarterback in 2026 from Georgia of all places.

Pros:

  • Definitely can build a program and has a very organized 'front office,' with Barton Simmons (formerly top brass at 247Sports) leading the charge.
  • Can punch above his weight class and can do much more with much less.
  • Well above average recruiter.
  • Has also shown the ability to put together a high-flying offense.

Cons:

  • His defenses haven't performed nearly on the caliber of what is expected in Ann Arbor.
  • Is already at his alma mater (like Dillingham) but appears to be much more entrenched.

Other candidates

There have been multiple other candidates listed, but at this time, we do not believe that any would be on Michigan's short list. Here are our thoughts on each.

  • Brian Kelly – Sorry, but there's no chance that Kelly and Michigan football are a fit. He's had some controversies, and that's the last thing the Wolverines need right now. Not to mention, Bryce Underwood decommitted from his LSU program to come to Michigan. The chances of retaining Underwood with Kelly in the fold would be low.
  • Tommy Rees – Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator – The former Notre Dame quarterback and offensive coordinator has bounced around and is one of the top offensive minds. But after the Sherrone Moore debacle, there's no chance that the Wolverines take this gamble.
  • Lincoln Riley (USC), Mike Elko (Texas A&M), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Dan Lanning (Oregon) – Two of the four (Elko and Freeman) were mentioned by Joel Klatt on his podcast. We're putting all four of these in the category of it's difficult to envision them leaving their current locations, even if Michigan did come calling. But in the cases of Riley and Freeman, it's probably unlikely that Michigan would come calling. However, never say never.
  • Jesse Minter – Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator – This one isn't a complete longshot given what Minter did in Ann Arbor in 2022-23 and with the Chargers the past two years. However, it does feel like the Wolverines are somewhat distancing themselves from the Jim Harbaugh tree at the moment, and the likelihood that they move from one Harbaugh coordinator to another in a first-time head coaching job feels low.
  • Jon Gruden – Again, no. Gruden hasn't been in the college game since the 1980s, and (we say this as Gruden fanboys) he's been quite a silly presence online, even before his Barstool stint. He's had his own share of controversy, and though cleared, that's not the attention Michigan needs right now.
  • Random coordinator – You hear these random names come up, like Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. Like with Rees, Michigan went through this one before with Sherrone Moore, and though either of the aforementioned might have better pedigrees, the Wovlerines appear to be looking for more experience.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Our updated Michigan coaching hot board with candidates heating up

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