In Earnest: Coaching candidates

Submitted by Justibro on November 7th, 2020 at 1:53 PM
As it appears the should be Harbaughs last year as head coach after the crap show we are presenting I'm interested in people's honest opinions for coaching candidates. For me the first 3 that come to mind are PJ Fleck, Tom Allen, and Bret Vennables (I probably slaughtered the spelling) Not a big fan of Fleck, so personally next. With Allen's young staff with Michigan ties I feel as though he would be the most welcomed and may be a legit pull. Idk if Vennables would leave clemson but could be a huge pull, especially for recruiting if them got him. So what say mgoblog in their infinite wisdom, who should we go after?

VAWolverine

November 7th, 2020 at 2:37 PM ^

Tom Allen isn’t coming. 
PJ Fleck won’t come to Ann Arbor. 
Mack Brown won’t leave NC.

Luke Fickell hates Michigan. 
Chris Petersen retired due to burnout. 
Joe Brady won’t come into our shit storm. 
Mario Christobal is where he wants to be. 
 

I would get out the checkbook for Bob Stoops. 

Joined: 11/06/2008

MGoPoints: 9927

Hannibal.

November 7th, 2020 at 10:48 PM ^

What makes you think that Tom Allen wouldn't come? 

What makes you think that Fleck wouldn't come?

Who gives a shit about Mack Brown?

How do you know that Luke Fickell hates Michigan enough to turn down the best opportunity that he will have to move up to a traditional Midwest power?

Why wouldn't Joe Brady come?  Every coach takes over a bad situation.

I don't know about Cristobal.

 

Joined: 09/09/2008

MGoPoints: 9051

uminks

November 7th, 2020 at 2:35 PM ^

Harbaugh is becoming our next Bump Elliot, though Harbaugh has not won the B1G yet but having several sub .500 teams are not out of the question. And Michigan will probably give him a contract extension.

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32157

Hannibal.

November 7th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^

For me (realistic candidates)

1. Luke Fickell

2. Jeff Brohm

3. Brent Venables

I am becoming increasingly optimistic that we'll see action before the season is over. 

 

Joined: 09/09/2008

MGoPoints: 9051

RobM_24

November 7th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^

Just spitballing here ... is Michigan at any sort of an advantage with their money situation in comparison to most other programs (with the COVID budget cuts)? I'm not sure about how flashy of a destination Michigan is anymore, but maybe the pockets are deeper? 

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Hannibal.

November 7th, 2020 at 2:44 PM ^

How do you know that Fickell won't come?  You don't know until you ask.  He has no hope of getting the OSU job in the near future.  The next best job that is a great fit for him is Penn State, but Franklin isn't on the hot seat just yet.   And any place that he goes who has recently fired the coach is going to be in bad shape (e.g. Texas if they fire Herman).  What better job will there be?  NFL maybe? 

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MGoStrength

November 7th, 2020 at 2:53 PM ^

Of course I don't, but he seems to hate UM. He was not just a coach at OSU, but also a player. He also has a good gig in his home state. I doubt he goes anywhere but OSU.

Also I just think Hafley will be a better coach. Fickel seems a bit boring...not sure he'll be a great recruiter. And, Hafley is younger.

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Yale Van Dyne Fan

November 7th, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^

MATT CAMPBELL

MATT CAMPBELL

MATT CAMPBELL

Luke Fickell: Absolutely zero chance. Forget about it. Brent Venables: Meh, a DC with no head coaching background in an era dominated by offense? Hard pass.

Joined: 11/29/2010

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carolina blue

November 7th, 2020 at 2:43 PM ^

Venables is going nowhere. We don’t know if he could be a HC. 
fleck is a terrible idea.

You could convince me with Fickell. 
 

who else is out there?  Petersen? Patterson? Mullen? Smart?

could we get any of them?

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rhamada

November 7th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^

Let’s get this out of the way first.  There is no way Urban is coming.  We need a young head coach with energy who isn’t a Michigan man.  Below is my list of young head coaches who are ready to take Michigan.  Jim Tressel was from Youngstown.  Mark Dantonio was From Cincinnati.  PJ Fleck is from Western. Brian Kelly was from Central.  All of the lm learned at smaller schools before moving to the big time.  I’d argue that all have done better at their programs than any coach we’ve had since Carr.  Time to go get a young coach that wants a chance at a destination school.  
 

1) Jeff Scott from USF.  He’s in his first season there with a bare bones roster.  He’s was the Co-Offensive Coordinator at Clemson.  He will bring a winner culture to Michigan.  He’s 39 years old with recruiting ties in the SEC, especially Florida. He’s 39 years old.  
 

2) Jason Candle from Toledo   He’s 40 with 6 years of head coaching experience  

 

3) Setu Littrell from North Texas   He’s 42 years old   He has 5 years head coaching experience   

 

4) Bill Napier from Louisiana.  He’s 41 years old.  He has two years of experience. 
 

If you prefer a coordinator, which I don’t, below is a list of possible interviews.  I think it’s better to have a coach with head coaching experience  

 

1) Josh Gattis - Michigan 

2) Steve Sarkisian - Bama

3) Jim Leonard - Wisconsin 

4) Morgan Scalley - Utah 



 

 

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Hannibal.

November 7th, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^

You never know who will come until you ask.  There is a decent list of three or four really good hires.  Some of them would say no.  I think that one would say "yes". 

I keep forgetting about Paul Chryst.  He is one of those guys who I think would say "no", but we should ask.

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surlyman

November 7th, 2020 at 4:11 PM ^

I agree.  Tom Allen is not a good choice he can't recruit like we need.  He's a good fit at Indiana.  I also don't think Fleck's act will play in Ann Arbor.  Stoops, Venables, those are candidates I think would at least move the needle.  Honestly, though, I'm in a pretty hopeless frame of mind right now.

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mrguy

November 7th, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^

I am not seriously suggesting any of this just curious, but why dont people ever go after Dabo? I dont like the guy but he is the only one that seems to be able to beat saban and I cant imagine there aren't schools out there with deeper pockets than Clemson. 

I suggested another candidate but deleted it as I dont want it to end up on a bulletin board as a look at how delusional UM fans are.

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SalvatoreQuattro

November 7th, 2020 at 3:47 PM ^

Allen is a lunatic. No way.

Fleck is younger, with Midwest and state of Michigan ties, can recruit, and is energetic.

 

Fleck has 11 win seasons at WMU and Minnesota. He can maximize talent.

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cp4three2

November 7th, 2020 at 3:53 PM ^

The first guy called will almost certainly be Stoops, who allegedly inquired when we hired Harbaugh. Fleck hasn't shown much and Venebles isn't leaving and would be a terrible fit. If we aren't going to do what's needed in recruiting, you need to find a football Beilein. That's Petersen, if he'd do it. 

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