Michigan Coaching Rumors Tracker: Latest on Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch and Other Potential Sherrone Moore Replacements originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.
It was a rare late opening in the college football schedule, but arguably one of the best head coaching jobs in the country became available in mid-December.
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THE Michigan Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore, who replaced Jim Harbaugh after the program’s 2023 national title, for cause because of a scandal involving his alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member. Moore was subsequently arrested on the evening of December 10 as part of an investigation into an alleged assault.
Today, one of the most recognizable brands in college football and a Big Ten powerhouse has a head coaching position available — but the opening of the position in December, with the coaching carousel already nearly complete, threw a wrench in the Wolverines’ process. From Kalen DeBoer to Jedd Fisch, however, there are still some intriguing candidates for Michigan.
Here are the latest rumors on Michigan’s head coaching search.
MORE: Everything you need to know about the Sherrone Moore scandal, after his arrest
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Tracking Michigan Coaching Rumors
Michigan AD Warde Manuel hopes to hire coach in coming weeks
According to Garcia, Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi said Manuel told the team he hoped to have a coach in place between Christmas on Dec. 25 and Michigan’s bowl game on Dec. 31. While this seems a bit like wishful thinking, it would require the Wolverines to hire a new head coach within the next two weeks.
Michigan’s OC Chip Lindsey leaves for Missouri
While the future of Michigan’s entire coaching staff is in flux, one key assistant will not be returning. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has accepted the same position at Missouri under coach Eli Drinkwitz, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports, agreeing to a three-year contract.
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Michigan’s coaching search isn’t “expected to be resolved anytime soon.”
ESPN’s Dan Wetzel reported Saturday night that, based on everything he’s heard, “I wouldn’t expect Michigan’s coaching search to be resolved anytime soon.”
Kalen DeBoer, one of the leading candidates, won with Alabama to extend the season at least until New Year’s Day; Kenny Dillingham, who was also rumored to be on Michigan’s tracker, agreed to an extension with Arizona State earlier today.
Dillingham says he was never offered a job in Michigan
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, who agreed to an extension Saturday, said he was never offered the Michigan job.
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“None of this has ever happened, and it has never gotten to this point. Michigan is an incredible job with unlimited resources, with people who will do everything they can to make this successful, who want to see it succeed,” Dillingham said, according to On3. “Someone is going to have an incredible opportunity … to take over one of the best programs in the country, with the resources to be one of the best programs in the country and with one of the best teams in the country.”
DeBoer replacement candidates include Eli Drinkwitz and Jedd Fisch
During his Friday appearance on ESPN, Thamel also reported that while DeBoer is considered the top candidate for Michigan, other names to watch include Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Washington’s Jedd Fisch. He also mentioned ASU coach Kenny Dillingham, but then got an extension announced on December 20.
“Michigan officials aren’t just focused on DeBoer. Sources told me they’ve had a handful of exploratory conversations with different candidates this week,” Thamel said, by On3. “The recruiting pool, if it’s not DeBoer, sources told me, would involve Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Washington’s Jedd Fisch. The timing could be tricky. Two of those coaches — Dillingham and Drinkwitz — have bowls after Christmas.”
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Kalen DeBoer remains Michigan’s top target, but Alabama’s CFP loss would have made his hire more ‘tenable’
Before Alabama’s CFP game against Oklahoma on Friday night, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that sources told him that “Michigan officials remain confident” they wanted to take a chance on Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, who insisted he would coach in Tuscaloosa next season.
However, Thamel noted that a CFP first-round loss to Alabama would have made those logistics much more realistic — and subsequently, the Crimson Tide beat the Sooners 34-24 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Even before his victory in the CFP, DeBoer said he feels “completely supported” at Alabama and that he didn’t talk about practicing with any other teams when asked about Michigan’s opener. He also released a declaration about his commitment to Alabama.
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Kenny Dillingham signs new Arizona State extension with Michigan rumors
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham received a new contract with the Sun Devils worth an average of $7.5 million in the deal, according to Thamel.
The extension removes Dillingham from the candidate pool for Michigan’s opening, as he had previously been a rumored candidate.
Utah’s Kyle Whittingham ‘expressed interest’ in Wolverines job
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, who will leave the Utes after coaching in the Las Vegas Bowl, previously said he wants to continue coaching and considers himself “in the transfer portal.”
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Whittingham has expressed interest in Michigan’s opening, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Michigan has interest in Browns OC Tommy Rees
The Wolverines have expressed interest in Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees for their head coaching position, according to Cleveland.com. Rees was previously the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama, and he was promoted to the Browns’ OC position for the 2025 season.
