Hypothetical 2015 Coaching Candidates
I must admit I watched that game on Saturday night and wasn't even really that mad. The state of the football program the last 7 years has made me numb to the pain. Hoke seems like a wonderful guy and is an excellent recruiter - but it should be clear to everyone by now he's in over his head as our coach.
If this season stays in the dumpster (or as a mound of eternal flaming tires) - what coaches would hypothetically be out there to give us hope heading into 2015?
Harbaugh 1 and Harbaugh 2 will always be thrown around - but beyond them, is there anyone with ties to Michigan that would represent a "solid" choice the fanbase could unite behind? I'm struggling to come up with other names - and that's a damn shame since Bo should have left a tree of many disciples that could take this program well into the mid-21st century. But it seems as if most of those flames have died out post-Moeller and Carr.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
I've been thinking about basically what you're saying. Basically what your saying is "Why the hell would anyone leave a major coaching job (NFL or major college) for us. I think you're dead on. That said, for a guy like Sumlin or Briles, or the Oklahoma State coach or basically anyone coaching at a school that is traditionally middle of the pack in the Big 12 or SEC, is it worth it to come to a wealthy former powerhouse like Michigan where the in-league competition is pretty weak compared to where you are? Further, even with our mediocre records of the last six years, we're still recruiting easily.
Again, I don't want to hear about current NFL head coaches like the Harbaughs or guys at powerhouse programs like Saban, Meyer, or even Charlie Strong. Not going to happen.
Also, Gruden is done. If you were making the scratch he's making in his broadcasting career without having to expose yourself and your family to the pressures of big time NFL or college coaching, wouldn't you sit up in that broadcasting booth and laugh all the way to the bank? Come on!! That dude is DONE with coaching.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
Gruden has his own TV segment and makes millions working for ESPN. He is almost universally loved for doing nothing other than being a likeable talking head. If he were to go back to coaching, he would risk all of that adulation because he might not be awesome. He has a pretty damn great life right now and I see no reason why he would ever give that up.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
The list gets even shorter when you eliminate head coaching candidates at schools with questionable academic standards.
I'm not saying Michigan holds its players to the highest standards - but we saw what a guy like Rich did when he was forced to recruit more 'intelligent' players than he was allowed at his previous job. In my mind this would eliminate the Brileses and Gundys of the world.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
Briles would be risky. Now, he's the kind of risk that might pay off (imagine what this program would look like if Michigan had taken a risk on Harbaugh after Carr retired) but he is still a risk. His offense is dynamite, but it also suffers peculiar dry spells in big games. Remember, last season their early schedule was a cakewalk, but when they started playing tough opponents, things weren't moving so smoothly.
Even if the offense can work consistently (and it may well do so), a larger issue with bringing Briles here is recruiting: Briles has zero connection to recruiting in the upper midwest. Yeah, Michigan might get a couple of Texas recruits, but Briles wasn't drawing the best guys from there, either. Connections to high school programs in Michigan and Ohio are the lifeblood of Michigan recruiting. RichRod did not have that, and that was a major contributor to talent shortages in his term; Hoke has it, and gets great players.
I think it's telling that Briles was never a serious candidate at Texas. They're not stupid--if he was going to be the next big thing, he'd probably be coaching there.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
Harbaugh would be a homerun hire, but if he doens't want the job then I don't give a damn about "anyone having ties to Michigan." Go hire the best candidate who has a vision for Michigan. If the alumni can't get on board with that, we might as well not even expect Michigan to be good again - let alone great.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
I knew someone would bring up Cam. Good guy BUT none of his head coaching stints has really gone too well. Some people are not meant for the head coaching gig. Plus, if you're dumping Hoke you need a splash if possible. What splash does Cam bring?
September 8th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:38 AM ^
please no, let Hoke stay if this is our best option, at least he can recruit.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
Yes but his wins on signing day aren't translating to wins on Saturdays.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:21 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
It's not 2 weeks...it has been 2 years and 2 weeks...and the results haven't been pretty.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
3 years and 2 weeks.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
6 years and 2 weeks.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
I prefer to think of it like this:
Hoke is 6-9 on the road, with those 6 wins coming against Northwestern (x2), Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, and UConn. Essentially, all terrible teams (sometimes in terrible fashion - see UConn - 2013).
He has exactly three wins over ranked programs (Nebraska @ Home - 2011, Va Tech - 2012 Sugar Bowl, ND @ Home - 2013). He went 0-4 against ranked opponents in 2012 and 1-2 in 2013.
He has been setup with a marginal (at best) B1G since he became HC, produced one great season in 2011 and has been horrible ever since.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- Jim Harbaugh
- John Harbaugh
- Kevin Sumlin
- Jim Harbaugh
September 8th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
1.Dylan
2.Dylan
3.Dylan
4.Dylan
5.Dylan
September 8th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh will never ever ever ever ever ever be the head coach at Michigan
Ever ever ever ever
September 8th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
Don't forget David Shaw. I've never thought about Sumlin. He is an interesting choice and I would not mind that happening one bit.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
David Shaw would be a great candidate but I doubt he would consider leaving Stanford, since he is from San Diego and a Stanford alum. Shaw did play HS football in Michigan while his dad coached for the Lions and appears to share familiarity with the region.
Even still, I think there would need to be a reason other than money driving his decision to leave his alma mater. Shaw signed an extension a couple of years ago, but let's say we come in with a strong offer--say maybe $6m per year for five years (enough to make him 2nd to only Saban in pay). Negotiations with Shaw would need to take place during the offseason, so it may not be prudent to fire Hoke mid-season. It would also help for Stanford to have a really disappointing season, say 8-4....losing @home to USC to start season does not hurt matters. I still don't know if that would be enough of an incentive for Shaw. Not sure how close Shaw still is with Jim Harbaugh, but perhaps that could be an angle we could look to pursue. Even if Harbaugh does not share an interest in coaching at Michigan, he must still want to see the program succeed. I believe Shaw may also have a connection with John Harbaugh through the Ravens.
The question is: what's the sell that those guys make? Maybe it is this.
"Shaw, as much as you love Stanford you're chances of getting a national championship there are marginalized by the school's acceptance rates and the competion from other strong Pac-12 contenders. I know you love Palo Alto, but how much do you want a national championship? Because if that is more important than weather, you could find a great opportunity at MY alma mater, the University of Michigan. UofM shares many of Stanford's great qualities...and MORE."
September 8th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
I like Shaw as a person and leader, but his in-game coaching is highly suspect.
Stanford punted from USC's 29 AND 32 yard line last Saturday. The announcer (don't recall who it was) said he'd never seen anyone punt from inside their opponent's 30 before.
Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it...
September 8th, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
1. Not going to happen
2. Not going to happen
3. Not going to happen
4. Not going to happen
5. Not going to happen
6. Not going to happen
7. Not going to happen
8. Not going to happen
9. Might happen if hell freezes over
10. Not going to happen
September 8th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
How about Art Briles?
September 8th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
We live in an imperfect world. Michgian football can recover from this ugly loss. My preference is that 1) that happens, and 2) because that happens, Hoke remains the coach next year.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
I too hope that they can recover and I know that means that Hoke will remain coach but I don't see why the two need to go hand in hand.
Is a 7-5 or 8-4 record a recovery? Does that save his job? To what end - more 7-5 and 8-4 records?
I will remain a fan but when you play for nothing each year (except a lower tier bowl) - it gets frustrating. I would like to think we strive for more and Hoke has shown he is not the man to deliver that.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
Why is no one talking Mike Gundy? He got Oklahoma State in contention for a National Title and he's a man who's 40-something. He could be here for 20 years. You're telling me $7 million a season doesn't get him here?
September 8th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
He is a man. He is (over) 40.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
Right? I mean, the guy basically lays out his qualifications right there in press conferences.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
is 47 now and has coached at Oklahoma State in some capacity every year but 4 since 1989. He's a Cowboy for life.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
Um, because he's a tantrum-throwing, hair-gel-wearing redneck whose teams post lousy graduation rates. This isn't East Lansing, dude. Michigan does not want to represented by that yokel.
September 8th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^
I honestly can't tell if this is what you really think or if this is a hyperbolic satire of what was said about RichRod when he took the job.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
If we hadn't made two turned-out-to-be-a-bust coaching hires in a row, I'd throw Jake Spavital (Texas A&M OC) out there for fun. But he's like 29 years old and this point we can't afford to take a risk on anyone that's not already proven to be elite.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
I could do it. But I'm not gonna beg for the job, Dave Brandon would have to approach me first.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
Pay him boatloads of money. We can't do these "up and comer" type coaches anymore. Harbaugh all the way. Those rumors of unhappiness in SF are becoming more and more believeable.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
You're telling me if we threw 11 million per season at Urban, he doesn't come? Wouldn't that stick in Ohio's craw?
EDIT: /s, before people who cannot detect sarcasm neg me to Bolivia.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
I think we really need to abandon the prerequisite that they must have ties to Michigan. If we had already done that, we wouldn't have hired a career .500 coach and may not be where we currently are.
September 8th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
"I think we really need to abandon the prerequisite that they must have ties to Michigan. If we had already done that, we wouldn't have hired a career .500 coach and may not be where we currently are."
This x 1000000 (more zeroes than I care to type!)
But after the perception of what was "done to Rich Rod" by many in the coaching world, why the hell would an outsider come be the HC at Michigan and risk having that happen?
Michigan's best chance at the best of both worlds, someone with Michigan ties who still maybe is an "outsider" that allows a broader net to be cast is to bring in an outsider to be a position coach (like Hoke) or a coordinator (like Nussmeier) to pacfiy everyone.
Sad that such a proud program feels the need to do this. But when the dumbasses have the most clout, it's what we have to live through!
September 8th, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
You want to really swing for the fences go for a small team coach with something to prove. ND State has been running FCS for a while now and they get kids to go to ND!! I'm from western SD and I can't think of any reason why I'd want to go there.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
The guy behind that masterpiece is at Wyoming now. He just went there this year.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
September 8th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
We missed our chance. Bo 2.0 now resides in East Lansing.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
In before delete. I said Cowher on the same thread Saturday night that was deleted so I'll repeat it here so it can get on this thread that will be deleted. I see someone beat me to it... 6x.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
See above. I invoke "The Gruden Rule" on Cowher for the same reason. Why the HELL would that guy leave the money and easy lifestyle of the broadcast booth to go back to coaching if he hadn't already? Makes no sense.