Well, it's official. Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan football, weeks after winning the national championship, and parading to the NFL to lead the Los Angeles Chargers.
ladies and gentlemen, we got him.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 25, 2024
we’ve agreed to terms with Jim Harbaugh to be our head coach » https://t.co/cM4NZTOqKE pic.twitter.com/PTauQDWDVb
Harbaugh carried the Wolverines to a historical 15-0 season this year, their first undefeated record since 1997 (12-0). Many will be submitting their resumes hoping to build off the success and have the opportunity to coach the Big Blue, one of the most notable and decorated college football programs.
So, who are the front runners?
who will Coach michigan Next Season?
| Option | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sherrone Moore (Michigan Offensive Coordinator) | +200 |
| Chris Kleiman (Kansas State Head Coach) | +700 |
| Lance Leipold (Kansas Head Coach) | +700 |
| Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri Head Coach) | +225 |
| Matt Campbell (Iowa State Head Coach) | +1000 |
| Brian Kelly (LSU Head Coach) | +1200 |
| Other | +1000 |
Sherrone Moore favored to coach michigan football
Not a shocking ground-breaking option here. Moore has spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Wolverines. During all the sign-stealing investigation and suspensions, Moore stepped up during the first and final three meetings Harbaugh missed and maintained the spotless record.
Regardless of Harbaugh's absence, the 37-year-old is still entirely responsible for crafting the offense that averaged a whopping 35.9 PPG.
Not to mention he was in charge for Michigan's two toughest matchups this season against Penn State and Ohio State. I mean, isn't a win over the Buckeyes the main and only criteria Wolverines fans truly care about?
Sherrone Moore is the guy.
— Championship Connoisseur (@UMvsEveryone) January 25, 2024
Proved he can handle the responsibility this season.
Won’t have to deal with *this* every offseason
More likely to keep roster intact short-term
Knows the culture that brought the program a title and can keep it going
Mogged Ryan Day pic.twitter.com/yzASPdpcnv
Lance Leipold
After adopting a winless (0-9) Jayhawks group in 2021, Leipold has slowly but surely taken steps in the right direction. Kansas finished with a promising 9-4 record this year, being ranked No. 19 at one point, while winning the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
Michigan has plenty of top players heading out the door with JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson and others eyeing spots in the NFL Draft. Leipold has shown he can build a team efficiently and that's what the Wolverines will be wanting on the hunt to defend their title, something the program hasn;t down since 1947 and 1948.
brian kelly shouldn't and wouldn't leave LSU For michigan
Kelly spent over a decade in Michigan when he coached at Grand Valley State. But, the 62-year-old has really started to cement his work with the Tigers, winning bowl games in his two seasons and tagging double-digit wins to his team's final records. LSU's offense was lethal, averaging the nation's highest 43.3 PPG, courtesy of Heisman-winner Jayden Daniels.
But, having Kelly, an established college football head coach, the face behind LSU has uplifted the program. Plenty of recruits have eyes on LSU, including 22 four-star commits from the 2024 class, the fourth most in Division 1. Kelly would be a fool to leave behind what he's started.
Rival fanbases when Brian Kelly is announced as Michigan’s next coach and we get access to Michigan and LSU’s roster pic.twitter.com/ABgwwVqJC6
— NOT Bama’s New OC (@BC_Abrams32) January 23, 2024
