Michigan football is in search of a new head coach following the dismissal of Sherrone Moore on Wednesday. Moore”s firing came after reports of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, which subsequently led to his arrest as a suspect in a related assault case. The timeline of the investigation by the Michigan athletic department remains unclear, but it coincides with a challenging period of coaching changes across college football.
The Wolverines are preparing to face Texas on December 31 in the Citrus Bowl, with Biff Poggi stepping in as interim head coach. Poggi had previously taken charge of the team during Moore”s suspension, achieving a perfect record of 2-0 in those games. The opening of the transfer portal on January 2 adds urgency to the coaching search, as players will have a limited window to enter the portal once a new head coach is appointed.
According to the odds released by BetOnline.ag, Kalen DeBoer, currently the offensive coordinator for Alabama, is the frontrunner to fill the coaching vacancy at Michigan. At 51 years old, DeBoer boasts a 19-7 record in two seasons with Alabama, leading the team into the College Football Playoff, where they are set to face Oklahoma.
ESPN College Insider Paul Finebaum expressed confidence in DeBoer, stating on “SportsCenter,” “It feels like the No. 1 candidate is going to be Kalen DeBoer. He has led Alabama to the Playoffs in his second year.” DeBoer was also considered for the head coaching position at Michigan when he was leading at Washington, particularly after Michigan defeated Washington 34-13 in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy echoed Finebaum”s sentiment, suggesting that while DeBoer is an excellent choice, there are questions about his interest in leaving Alabama. McElroy commented, “You have to wonder, is Kalen DeBoer really interested? And what are the optics going to look like? Kalen DeBoer is the ultimate competitor. Would he leave Alabama? Would it look like he was running?”
Following DeBoer in the odds is Jesse Minter, who is currently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers and previously served as Michigan”s defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023. Joe Brady, the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, is placed third, with Judd Fisch from Washington close behind. Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is listed at 10/1.
McElroy noted that there is a desire among Michigan supporters to distance the program from the Jim Harbaugh era, reflecting the challenges the team has faced in recent years regarding public perception. The next few weeks will be critical as Michigan looks to stabilize its program with the right leadership.
