Michigan’s season is barely done and already we are in a repeat of last offseason where Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL is blowing up our Twitter feeds. This time we have word that Jim has indicated he will leave if offered, in addition to multiple NFL openings already known to us.
But who would replace him in Ann Arbor? He certainly has left the job better than when he inherited it, the mark of a good coach.
This job continues to be a top-10 job in the country by most metrics. They have the history, name brand, recruiting, merchandise deal, path to the CFP, and everything you could ask for as a coach. This is obviously preliminary, he hasn’t even left Michigan yet but here are some guys to look out for.
Kalen DeBoer
Head Coach, Washington
DeBoer would be one of my first calls. He did wonders at Fresno State and in his first year at Washington. Not to mention his domination at NAIA Sioux Falls including 3 national titles. His tutelage of Michael Penix Jr. and high powered offense and proven track record will put him on most lists of elite programs looking for a job.
Bill O’Brien
Offensive Coordinator, Alabama
The Tide faithful are not thrilled with O’Brien right now. But it shouldn’t fall squarely on him that their OL and WR rooms were poor by Alabama standards this year. He has a fantastic track record as head coach. He took over a Penn State program in the wake of the worst scandal in college football history and got them legit in a hurry. With the Houston Texans he was poor as a GM but on the field he was good, winning the AFC South more often than not.
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P.J. Fleck
Head Coach, Minnesota
Could we be rowing the boat in Michigan? I’d put PJ on the list, anyways. He led Western Michigan to a 13-1 season in his final year there. Since coming to Minnesota he has brought stability, culture, and a consistent run game to a team who needed all three. He is 44-27 since arriving in Minneapolis with 4 bowl appearances, winning each of them.
Dave Aranda
Head Coach, Baylor
Aranda had a wealth of success at Wisconsin as DC before moving to LSU in the same role. A national title there got him the head job at Baylor where he has made a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. He has a lot of characteristics that big programs will love, has worked with some of the biggest names in the game, and gets rave reviews form his peers.
David Shaw
Former Stanford Head Coach
Does Shaw want to coach next fall? None of us know. If he does, Michigan will probably reach out, at least for a chat. He was 96-54 at Stanford and was extremely successful, before the last 2 years where nothing went right. His teams plays Big 10 ball. Tough defense, power run game, burly O-lineman. He also has experience at a highly academic school, which will appeal to the Wolverine brass.
Mark Stoops
Head Coach, Kentucky
Stoops has done one of the best long term coaching jobs of anyone in a long time. He took over a Kentucky program with no history or recent success and has led them to perennial top 25 status in a decade, that shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s won 7 games or more every year but one since his third year on the job. The kind of building and stability he could bring will be appealing to some.
Josh Heupel
Head Coach, Tennessee
Some might scoff at this but Heupel will get a call. Will he be Michigan’s next head coach? Unlikely. But he’d be foolish not to listen.
Only the most faithful and delusional of orange clad individuals would say Tennessee is a better job than Michigan. The Wolverines’ position is better than almost all other jobs in college football. Heupel has done great at UCF and Tennessee, and he will not be short of suitors from the most elite of schools.
Dave Clawson
Head Coach, Wake Forest
Another builder who took over a terrible program and has brought success and stability. I’m not sure the slow mesh offense is a fit for Michigan, but Clawson can flat out coach. Apart from the 2020 covid year, he’s won 7 or more games every year since 2016. That’s not easy to do at Wake. He’s clearly figured out what works for him, will it work at an elite school?
Matt Campbell
Head Coach, Iowa State
A year ago he’d probably have gotten this job, that’s why Campbell gets a mention. 2022 was a disaster for the Cyclones but he’s done too much good to make me think he forgot how to coach. He is young, energetic, has recruited the area, and up to this year, was seen as a climber. I don’t think he’s the guy now but I also think he gets a bigger job within the next few years too.
Todd Monken
Offensive Coordinator, Georgia
The Bulldogs are playing in their second consecutive national title soon and Monken has been calling plays for both. He tutored Stetson Bennett to a Heisman finalist campaign. He has been reluctant to leave Athens, but this is a job I doubt he’d turn down. He does have former HC experience, leading Southern Miss to a 9 win season before departing for the NFL.
