To me, the only good options are (in order) Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, David Shaw, Les Miles, and Kevin Sumlin.

Fortunately, this list is just a partial list, as it only includes Power 5 guys.  I assume that Brian will put out a similar list of non-Power 5 guys and NFL guys.

Personally, the only one on this entire list that I would be excited about is Shaw, and even he isn't a home run. 

Is it delusional that I am still hoping for a Harbaugh or Les Miles?

1. We need an HC that pays equal attention to offense and defense.

2. We need someone who can tailor their schemes to work with the players we have. This fan base will not tolerate a lengthy rebuilding transition.

3. We need someone who fits in with the culture of the university, and will recruit players that can succeed at the university.

4. We need someone with the political savvy to deal with all of the nonsense Michigan football brings.

5. We need someone who will select his coordinators and assistant coaches based upon their results and not because of personal relationships.

Bring the Hat home. I don't care if he's 80 or who he slept with. Or if he ripped off someone's ear. He'd still be an ass kicker and asses need to be kicked.

If typical home run options aren't available, nor are the likes of Butch Jones (which I think prying him from Tennessee would be hilarious considering the fact that they've held a grudge against us for years over the Manning not winning the Heisman), what do people think about Craig Bohl? I've thrown his name around a couple of times, and I know he's a bit of a no-name, but it's not like that hasn't worked before. Our neighbors to the south tried that with a certain guy named Tressel, and I'd say that worked out for them nicely.

His resume is pretty darn impressive, even if just at the FCS level. 3 straight national championships, and even though he's currently at Wyoming, his old team is primed to run away with a 4th one. Winning a national title at any level is difficult, but 3 in a row? Come on, I don't care what level you're at: that's some damn good coaching, especially when you're trying to lure kids out to frickin North Dakota. One could make the argument that his resume is just as impressive, if not more impressive than Saban's.

He is the definition of a winner, and while he hasn't had to really ever deal with the pressure and expectations of being at a big program, he could be the guy that turns us around. I'm thinking he would jump at the chance to come here and prove himself at a high level.

He's a backup option, but he's not a bad one by any stretch.

Shaw gets my vote every time. It isn't the manball stuff at all though his defenses producing guys like the Skov brothers, Ben Gardner, Trent Murphy and Josh Mauro.  Watch the party in the backfield they had going last year against Oregon, that was absolutely inspired and fun to watch.

Slightly more than a month ago I was still reading this year's HTTV and full of expectations for a 10-2 season. Who the hell would foresee the shit we are in today?!

So Brady Hoke makes about twice as much as Mark Helfrich?  My God that is absurd.

I mean, Stanford, Tennessee, etc. can all pretty much match our money. I'd love to think we could, but... could we? I think to do that we'd have to have our AD and President and maybe some other major coaches at the University help make the pitch. I don't know that we have that unity right now. 

 

I will admit, there is a certain amount of 'looking at the Sears Wishbook' feeling to looking at some of these coaches...

I would love Art Briles, or even Kevin Wilson seems kinda fun at this point. I just feel like watching a fun offense again and have a good defense to boot would be nice. How many times did we see receivers wide open during the RR offense? How often do you see that now? Those offenses are just a ton of fun to watch

• Too old - If Michigan can have someone, anyone, come in and stabalize this program it would take it.  For 6 years, 5 years, 4 - doesn't matter.  We don't need a guy who can coach for 15-20 years, we need a guy who can coach for ANY years.
• Pipedream Dichotomy - Most of the guys listed are pipedreams.  You can throw Shaw right in with Sumlin and the Harbaughs. Get real. Slightly less delusional are Gundy and Jones and Mullen, but they will use Michigan to leverage cash and then stay where they are because where they are is a better situation than the toxic Michigan atmosphere.  Mullen MIGHT leave if he wants to go at Meyer, I guess, but why deal with the struggle.  Wilson's a realistic get, but ultimately a poor-man's Rich Rodriguez.
• Les Miles - more realistic than these other guys.  I don't want him either, but if Brandon's gone he'll be an obvious candidate to the next AD.

This is more a list of "who I want, by Brian" than a realistic list of candidates.  Which is fine, but potentially confusing to a lot of people given it doesn't acknowledge it is what it is.  Brian has a track record of innacuracy on this front, famously stating "the chance Brady Hoke is Michigan's coach in 2011 is zero point zero percent."

I look forward to reading more, but everyone should take this FWIW.

No comment on coaching candidates, but when I see "The Power 5" I always think it's the 4th sequel of The Power. I've always wanted to date a girl named... The Power

If we can't get Harbaugh, then hire Crazy Les until he retires,  By then hopefully Jim or John will be tired of the NFL by then.

There's a Power 5 conference coach with this resume (years coached, conference, wins  by year)

94-98, MIFC (whatever that is) 6, 7, 7, 9, and 9 wins, 38-14 record. OK, he built something and sustained it. Time to move up a level.

99-00, MAIAA, 5 and 6 wins, just a pit stop, on to bigger things

01-07, GFC, 1, 4, 10, 10, 9, 9, 12, 55-32 record, again, built something - this time from ground zero, and built it up into a perennial playoff team.

08-10, MAC, 6, 7, 10, 23-16 record, again showing continued improvement year-over-year

11-14, B1G, 3, 6, 8, currently stands at 4-1 after kicking Michigan's ass with Manball personified (David Cobb.) His 2013 team went into Spartan Stadium and gave MSU one of their toughest tests all year, especially considering that was at State.

OK, I understand he has health issues and zero personality, but he would have been a better pick than Hoke based on resume back in '11. He's still better than Hoke as the past 3.5 years have proven. But he looks funny, so I'll withdraw my nomination. My point is, I don't care about Michigan Man-ness, or style of play, or personality. I care about winning. I care about building a program and sustaining the program. And that goofy m-f'er has shown an ability to do that at stop after stop.

Sweet. A list of guys we can't have and a list of people we probably don't want. This sucks so hard.

It wouldn't surprise me if a pipe dream guy or two would be willing to come, even if no one here is thinking about the guy right now.  Rodriguez absolutely was that in 2007 and he wouldn't have appeared on anyone's list of possibilities until days before he was hired (nor would Mattison or Nussmeier appeared on anyone's list).  Plus, WVU's 2007 season solidified his status as a pipe dream coach, so there's still time for candidates' profiles to change before a likely offseason hire.

In a post-DB world, this is a better job than some here are saying (lots of talent, excellent facilities and resources, no recent history of success, etc.), and there are probably a couple of A-level guys out there who are unhappy where they are, ready for a change, or curious about the Michigan job.  At the end of the day, it just takes one of those guys to say yes.

I know the chances are infinitesimal, but what if Hoke finishes the year with a 7-1 or 6-2 conference record?  Does he still go?

Not suggesting either way, just guaging others' thoughts.

 I compare our situation to Alabama when Gene Stallings retired. Just like Lloyd Carr he had won a NC but no one begged him to stay. They then floundered through Mike DuBose, Mike Price, Dennis Franchione and Mike Shula before finally going after and getting Saban. I think Jim Harbaugh is the best coach out there right now. He would win immediately. He might wear out his welcome in a few years but so what. Show Him The Money!!!!!!

I'm in the camp that sees no risk in giving Nuss a chance right now.  The impact on recruiting is already done as everyone assumes Hoke won't be back next year.  I do think Hoke is a very loyal and ethical person who loves Michigan and would do whatever he could to hold the recruiting class together regardless of what happens.  Maybe there's a place for him.

I'm sticking with my Teryl Austin suggestion.  I think he'd be great.  He's working wonders with a Lions' D that has underachieved for years, getting the most out of his all-star linemen and turning practice squad guys into a servicable unit in the secondary.  Also, he's worked with Mattison (I believe) so I think Mattison might stay as D-coordinator, which I would like to have happen.  Austin is also a defensive backs coach and could coach the position hands-on.  With spread offenses in college, having a sound secondary is that much more important.  I think some guy in Alabama is also a head coach and defensive backs coach for his team.  I think he's doing okay.