Administrators for the Michigan Wolverines have reportedly assured athletes and their relatives that they intend to secure a replacement for the recently dismissed head coach prior to the end of the year.
According to a report from FootballScoop’s John Brice published on December 20, university representatives conducted virtual meetings with relatives of team members in recent days. The Wolverines parted ways with Sherrone Moore at the beginning of the month following an internal review that uncovered evidence of improper conduct involving a team employee.
Subsequently, authorities took Moore into custody in connection with a separate probe into a reported incident in Pittsfield Township, Michigan.
This development surfaced during an action-packed weekend in the expanded College Football Playoff format. Several initial-round matchups occurred on Saturday, leaving the Wolverines—who wrapped up their regular season with a 9-3 record—on the sidelines without postseason involvement beyond their upcoming bowl appearance.
Biff Poggi currently holds the role of temporary leader for the program. The team is scheduled to compete against Texas in the Citrus Bowl on December 31, just before the winter transfer window begins.
“With the mess at Michigan, I just don’t think you’re going to see a lot of the quote unquote top guys interested in that job,” a college football source told Brice. “Who’s going to want to walk into that mess?”
The head coach at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer, has made it clear he plans to remain with the Crimson Tide program, which progressed in the playoff bracket after defeating Oklahoma.
Kenny Dillingham, leading Arizona State, recently committed to a fresh five-year agreement and clarified that no formal proposal came from Michigan for their vacant position. His Sun Devils squad has posted a strong 19-7 mark across the last two campaigns and is set to face Duke in the Sun Bowl on December 31.
“Michigan’s an unbelievable job with unlimited resources, with people who will do whatever they can to make it successful, who want to see it succeed,” Dillingham said. “Somebody’s going to get an unbelievable opportunity … to take over one of the best programs in the country, with one of the best rosters in the country.”
Reports from Brice indicate that Jedd Fisch, currently at Washington and a former assistant under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, shows little momentum as a potential successor to Moore. Fisch has compiled a 15-11 record over his tenure with the Huskies, capping the recent campaign with a win in the LA Bowl against Boise State on December 13.
Earlier coverage from Brice highlighted Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich as someone worth considering for the Wolverines’ leadership role. Stenavich earned All-Big Ten recognition as an offensive lineman for Michigan in the mid-2000s and contributed to the staff there from 2011 to 2013.
The sudden vacancy has created challenges in attracting premier names, as the program’s recent turmoil may deter some high-profile figures from pursuing the opportunity amid a late-stage hiring process.
Despite the complications, Michigan’s storied history, substantial financial backing, and talented roster continue to position it as one of the most attractive openings in college football, even with the timing constraints approaching the holiday period and transfer portal activity.
Other names that have circulated in discussions include veteran coaches like Kyle Whittingham from Utah, who recently stepped down, and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, though many top options have either recommitted elsewhere or advanced deep into the playoffs.
As the search progresses under athletic director Warde Manuel, the emphasis remains on finding a leader capable of stabilizing the program and capitalizing on its resources for sustained success in the competitive Big Ten landscape.
