CC - Where do you stand?
The AD change has happened, and most everyone expects a coaching change to follow. I don't know about you, but my views have evolved quite a bit since the whole CC bit started in earnest after Minnesota. Most of that change has been the result of research into the candidates, but some has also been feelingsball.
I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks. Here's my current opinion, broken into tiers:
Tier 1 - Harbaugh
Jim or John, I'd be equally ecstatic with either. Jim is the proven college HC, John is the nicer guy with the SB ring.
Tier 2 - Yes, please
These are the guys that I believe are the best candidates not named Harbaugh.
- Dan Mullen - Offensive guru who has built a defensive juggernaut. Appears to be the total package and has the added bonus of echoing the Woody/Bo relationship vis-a-vis Meyer. My top choice in tier two.
- Todd Graham - All he is does is win, wherever he's coaching. Not sure he'd move to the midwest.
- Gary Patterson - Defensive coach that decided to evolve offensively this year and is knocking on the playoff door. Would overhaul the roster as much as anyone.
- Jim McElwain - Former 'Bama OC has turned Colorado State (3-9 for three straight seasons before McElwain) into a double-digit win team that has progressed steadily on both sides of the ball and will probably win the Mountain West.
Tier 3 - Ummm...okay
Guys that make sense, I guess, but I would not be pumped about.
- Mark Stoops - Has rapidly advanced a once-pathetic Kentucky team. Will the improvement continue?
- Greg Schiano - Demeanor aside, his HC record is good, but certainly not great. Is he a good coach?
- Tom Herman - My favorite coordinator candidate. He seems capable of adapting to his personnel and changing the plan mid-game. Also, I like the idea of taking Urban's top assistant. But can he run an entire program?
- Mike Gundy - Seems like a good coach and a great quote, but hasn't been amazing since 2011 and the Les Miles ties cocern me. Would he run a clean program?
- Kyle Whittingham - Having a pretty impressive season at Utah, and wasn't too stubborn to change his offense. Is he ready for a big-time job?
Tier 4 - DO NOT WANT
- Les Miles - Call me arrogant, naive, or whatever you want--I still don't want a douchebag running our program.
- Dave Doeren, Butch Jones, Craig Bohl, Matt Wells, Mark Hudspeth - Not proven yet.
- Scott Frost, Kirby Smart, Bud Foster - Would they stay?
If I didn't put a name on the list, I'm not currently interested. What does the board think?
November 5th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^
John Harbaugh centers around his old man's affiliation with the University and with Bo. Beyond that it's just hope.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
5. Jim Harbaugh
6. John Harbaugh
7. Jack Harbaugh with assistants that have striking similarities to John and Jim
8. Dan Mullen
9. John Harbaugh
10. Jim Harbaugh with Mark Schlissel personally visiting him at Jim's home saying that he would do "anything" to hire him.
11. Tom Herman
12. Kate Upton
November 5th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
Mind explaining your logic in Herman over Mullen? I'm curious.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
recruiting and player retention wise in teh SEC. Especially as you go further from the major traditional powers and larger media states. IMO Ole Miss and MSU are about as fertile a field for shananigans as there are. That's not to say I know Mullen is doing anything off-color.... just don't know.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
I agree with your list and even your order with one exception: I would include Les Miles as #3 ahead of Hermann. I know, he is a bit of a douche, but at the same time, he is a big name hire, and this program needs a big name hire desparately.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
Seems to me that he is willing to play whatever game is being played locally. At Okie St. it means one thing. At LSU another. I think he's do his best to be squeaky clean in A2, but I jsut don't think we need the taint.. On the other hand I like the guy. He's a character and Wangler loves him so I may be all wrong.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
They can't fuck this up... can they?
November 5th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^
belongs in Tier 3. Not sure he has proven he is ready yet.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
I don't think I'll be a satisfied customer if they're not heavily pursued at least. I would be ok with Mullen or maybe even Miles but not after being completely rejected by Jim, John or Jon Gruden( even though that ain't happening to anyone..like ever)
November 5th, 2014 at 1:46 PM ^
This is an honest question: Why is everyone so sold on Dan Mullen. I GET IT - he has a traditionally terrbile Miss St team ranking #1 in the polls, but beyond that?
I understand he's had success as a coordinator, and a great QB coach, but how much of that was riding off Urban's success (honest question)? Would he have been as good a coordinator at a different program? He's never had a season with more than 9 wins as a HC. Has had multiple 5-7 seasons and multiple 7-6 seasons at Miss St.
His HC career has averaged a middle of the pack SEC team. Never has had a double digit win season as HC. I just feel like everyone is high on him because they are #1 in the polls right now, but chances are that won't last through the season.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
The guy took the worst team in the best division in football and turned them into average or better, and now has them as the #1 team in the country.
Perhaps even more impressive, he's coaching great defenses to go along with his solid offense. Top it all off with his midwest ties and realtionship with Urban, and he's a pretty attractive candidate.
Who looks better (not named Harbaugh)?
November 5th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^
Miss St does not have a great defense. Their secondary is terrible. They never really had a great defense under Mullen.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^
Here are Mullen's total offense/defense ranks for 2009-2013 (haven't looked this year) vs 2008 [Croom's last year]. Defense had improved to a good level last year but before that wasn't much. And he was no offensive "guru" - Graham and Sumlin had top 5 offenses multiple years. I never looked at Mike Leach but I am sure he did too. If anything his defense has been marginally better than his offense his entire time at MSU.
| W/L | Tot Off | Tot Def | |
| 2008 | 4-8 | 113 | 35 |
| 2009 | 5-7 | 65 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9-4 | 42 | 49 |
| 2011 | 7-6 | 84 | 35 |
| 2012 | 8-5 | 79 | 52 |
| 2013 | 7-6 | 42 | 18 |
November 5th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
There is no "beyond that." Imagine he was coaching at Indiana with the same level of success he has had at MSU. Would you want him then? Because the two are comperable in historical success, except MSU faces much, much tougher competition.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
Really? You wouldn't want a coach who manages to pull Indiana to consistent 8 win seasons and then get them to #1 in the country 2/3 of the way through the season? I mean, what more can you ask for?
November 5th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
ESSSSSS -EEEEEEEE- SEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 5th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
The Mullen hype makes me very nervous.
Here are reasons -
- Anyone coming out of the SEC not from Georgia or a few others who seem to run pretty clean programs makes me nervous period.
- He has a bevy of JUCOs, which he wont be able to do at UM
- Mark Stoops in 2 years outrecruited Dan Mullen in 6 years.
- One year wonders make me very nervous.
- No tangible big upset wins in his first 5 years other than knocking off decent Ole Miss squads twice in a rivarly game. There is no Nick Saban at MSU beating Ohio State in year 4, there is no Harbaugh beatin USC / Oregon back to back in year 3. An elite coach finds a way to get a major upset somewhere along the line in year 3-4.
- He is not an offensive guru in my mind. An offensive guru (Harbaugh, Briles, Graham & his OCs, Sumlin, Mike Leach) finds a QB to hitch his horse to sometime by year 2-3 of his regime and creates a team that might be 8-5 but plays games they win or lose 40-37. i.e. you build a Texas Tech/Baylor early Briles level of team if you are a true offensive guru ....until your defense comes around and you can build a complete team He should have done that by year 2,3...4 at latest. It took him 6 years to find a QB. And never was the Miss State offense considered elite or "guru" led.
I have Graham and Patterson ahead of Mullen because my belief is they are in conferences that more mimic the Big 10 and their recruiting success is more likely to be replicated in the Big 10.
I could be 100% wrong, and we'll see how Dan Mullen turns out in 6-8 years from now. He strikes me as a solid coach but at this point we need a top 15 coach in the country as our 3 rivals all have one. I don't see Mullen as one of the top 15 in the country.
November 5th, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
Georgia suspends players for things other schools sweep under the rug... or try to (see Florida)
This is provided as an explanation, not an assertion of fact - although I do find it very believable.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
What would Brady Hoke's record be if he coached at MS State? Not 7-6. Mullen is far and away one of the better candidates. Has the #2 school in a talent-bereft state playing the best football in the country, in the best conference in the country. Not sure what else you're looking for.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
is the Harbaughs and Mullen. Anyone other than that - unless some holy shit hire that no one can even fathom - and I'll be sorely disappointed mixed with a lot of apprehension.
November 5th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
You're talking about John Gruden right? Thats the holy shit hire. John Gruden. Right?
November 5th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
I agree with Tier 1 and Tier 2, with the exception of Todd Graham. Something about Graham rubs me the wrong way, possibly his reputation for being a nomadic coach.
I like Tier 3, although I do not want Schiana after he reportedly turned us down before to stay at RUTGERS. I do believe he is a good coach, though.
Miles should be moved from Tier 4 to Tier 2. He's old, but he just wins baby. I also don't agree with having Kirby Smart and Scott Frost in Tier 4 simply because you are scared they might leave eventually. There is no evidence they would, and if they build Michigan into a powerhouse, the only upward move available to them would be the pro's, and that's a bridge we can cross when we come to it.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
It's Harbaugh, or get lucky. It's going to take a transcendent person to not only turn this ship around, but take it where it's supposed to go.
That kind of person guaranteed a win against Ohio State and then went out and fucking won.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
I'll walk to Ann Arbor, Fergodsakes.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Tier 1 - Harbaugh
Fuck yes please make it happen somehow. Clearly the best choice. Jim is kinda psycho but I don't think he is unethical. Hes also a great coach and more than anything, a competitor. If we want to be great at football there is no clearer choice.
Tier 2 - Yes, please
- Dan Mullen - I would take this, although it has taken him awhile to get his team going. Do we have the same patience?
- Todd Graham - Too openly jesusy and crew-cutty. Plus he abandons teams in very unclassy ways.
- Gary Patterson - Dont' think he'll leave TCU. I'd be happy with the hire.
- Jim McElwain - Meh
Tier 3 - Ummm...okay
- Mark Stoops - Meh
- Greg Schiano - NO
- Tom Herman - Would be optimistic. Could be great.
- Mike Gundy - NO. I'm strongly opposed to getting coachs who currently coach at their alma-mater.
- Kyle Whittingham - Has been consistently good, wouldbe optimistic.
Tier 4 - DO NOT WANT
- Les Miles - If we can't get a homerun, I would be happy to get him to maintain the program for a few years until we can get a homerun. He loves Michigan. Don't like some of his unethical tactics at LSU, however.
November 5th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^
Why are you strongly opposed to getting coaches who currently coach at their alma mater?
November 5th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
It personally leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Mike Gundy played QB at OSU with Barry Sanders, and was the Oklahoma high school football player of the year in HS.
Call me old fashioned, but imagine if Harbaugh or Hart or Brady came here to be coach and then left for Florida or something like that?
November 5th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Whoever it is, I just hope they don't fuck it up or settle on a Plan D guy.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
November 5th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
He is on my Do not want list. He is a job jumper and don't think he could handle this job. I want a guy hired that makes Meyer and Dantonio, swear when they hear Michigan hired him.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
I would like a coach that can recruit against OSU, PSU, MSU, and ND. The coach should also be able to develop the players on the roster in skill and athleticism.
The coach should also use offensive and defensive schemes that both simplify things for the players, so they don't need to overthink, and put them in best position to succeed.
The coach should be able to modify their offensive or defensive strategy based on the players the roster, while staying within the general scheme they. OSU has done a masterful job of this with JT Barrett being thrust upon the offensive coaches 10 days before the season started.
Contrary to popular rhetoric, there are many coaches out there able to accomplish these tasks that aren't necessarily associated with Michigan.
Setting our expectations to the Harbaughs is just setting ourselves up for yet another letdown in a decade of continued gut-punches and letdowns. A successful NFL coach returning to college is a basically unpredecented occurence; hence I won't get my hopes up.
I'd prefer a defense oriented coach that resigns himself to running the spread offense. a la Bob Stoops or Gary Patterson.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
Tier 1: the closest thing to a sure thing
Jim Harbaugh
Tier 2: seasoned veterans with big time resumes (in order)
Gary Patterson
Les Miles
John Harbaugh
Todd Graham
Dan Mullen
Tier 3: risky picks with big potential upsides (in order)
Jim McElwain
Mark Stoops
Tom Herman
CHAOS CANDIDATES: hastening the singularity (with chaos there is no order)
Jim Tressel (just imagine what would happen to Mark Dantonio)
Pat Narduzzi (just imagine what would happen to Mark Dantonio)
Bill Belichick (just imagine what would happen to everything)
NO, NO, NEVER: Hoke 2.0 or Bill Callahan 2.0 (with bad ideas there is no order)
Greg Schiano
Jon Gruden
November 5th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
how is John Harbaugh not in Tier 1 as closest thing to a sure thing. The only thing separating the two is Jim is a better offensive mind and John is more player friendly. Success wise same level or damn close.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
He's a very good NFL coach, but I just don't see his resume as being as rock solid as Jim's--for our purposes. Jim oversaw the transformation of a perennial doormat into a perennial juggernaut in 4 years at Stanford, then took over a mediocre 49ers team and went to 3 consecutive NFC championship games. Dude has experience winning at both levels, and winning fast.
John has been a consistently good NFL coach and his name would carry a lot of weight with recruits. In other words, I'd be perfectly happy if we got him. Anyone who is in my tier 2 is also someone I'd feel relatively secure about. But he has little experience recruiting or coaching 18 y.o.'s. He might be Pete Carroll 2.0, but that's just not so clear yet.
...ergo I just don't see him as quite the choice his brother appears to be.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^
Might be better than mine. I pretty much agree, though I also believe John Harbaugh is close to a sure thing.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
Bob Stoops (if Castiglione is the next AD) and Dan Mullen in Top Tier in that they would be absolute home-run hires.
I'd add a category below Do Not Want called WTF? No and put Schiano in there.
Graham would be a hybrid of Please No/Um...Okay.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
Obviously Stoops would be excellent and aside from Jim Harbaugh he'd be my 2nd choice but the story yesterday on Castiglione said Stoops would not be part of a package deal.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
You call this a list? What self-respecting coaching candidates list does not include Jon Gruden? For shame.
November 5th, 2014 at 3:24 PM ^
FWIW, Tirico is in my Tier 2.
November 5th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
Tirico certainly wouldn't have to move if he took the job...
November 5th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
Up in the broadcast booth. Talks a good talk - lousy coach.
November 5th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
It's unreal the amount of people who do not want Les Miles. The guy is a flat out winner. He'd come here and turn this Michigan team around quicker than just about anyone, save Harbaugh. I dont care how old he is. He has the energy of a 35 year old. He's won a MNC. Sure he has some skeletons in his closet, but who doesnt? His offenses arent great, but they are better than anything Michigan has fielded in the last couple of years. He can recruit. I would put him in my Tier 2 category and would be very happy if Miles ended up here. Harbaugh would be a HR hire, and Miles, imo, would be a triple.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
His winning is sustainable:
- In 9 seasons at LSU, he has won 10+ games 7 times.
- If LSU wins 10+ games this year, it will be their 5th in a row.
- In 9 seasons at LSU, he is 6-3 in bowl games.
- His teams have been ranked in the top 10 in 5/9 seasons at LSU.
- His overall winning percentage at LSU is .797.
- In his worst season, LSU went 8-5. This happened once.
Sure, he inherited a good situation from Nick Saban and has a very good base to recruit from, but he's also fielding teams in the INSANELY competitive SEC West, and winning with regularity there. If he were a bad coach who couldn't identify and develop talent, his 9 years at LSU would look more like similar stretches for Arkansas or Ole Miss.
Dude is a bit nuts, but dude can coach.
November 5th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^
If Jim Harbaugh is the HR hire, then Miles is probably a triple. Schiano, on the other hand, is a strikeout after failing to get down the sac bunt!
November 5th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Hoke has proven that you can recruit well at Michigan even while being mediocre. Just imagine what Miles could do. Proven head coach with a national title, has ties in the south and you can bet he'll be just as good(if not better than Hoke) recruiting Ohio.