Michigan football coaching search: hot board update and outlook

Michigan football is still in search of a new head coach to lead the program after the abrupt firing of Sherrone Moore two weeks ago. With a New Year's timeline still necessary, given the opening of the transfer portal on January 2, names have been coming and going. With that, who are the public candidates as of current?

And even with that, who would be the best options for the maize and blue should they truly be in contention?

We're resetting the hot board to discuss where things stand with each currently discussed candidate, as well as grading how they would be as a hire for the maize and blue. Here's where each stands.

Todd Monken, offensive coordinator, Baltimore Ravens

Monken's name arose as part of a report on Wednesday morning from FootballScoop. And after speaking to one person, who could not comment publicly on the matter, Monken is a real candidate for the Wolverines. And it stands to reason why.

A two-time national champion offensive coordinator with Georgia (2021-22), he oversaw an offense that exactly fits what Michigan is trying to do with its personnel. He has extensive college and NFL experience. He's familiar with not only the Midwest but also Washtenaw County, Michigan, having coordinated the Eastern Michigan offense for nearly a decade. He has head coaching experience, having turned Southern Miss from a zero-win team to a nine-win program.

Yes, he is 59 years old, but that's still young enough to come in for a decade (if need be) and do more than stabilize the program. His work with Stetson Bennett IV and Lamar Jackson should be tantalizing for Bryce Underwood and company. His connections should garner a very good staff, as well; Monken had Chip Lindsey as his offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi some time ago.

Potential: 9/10

Jeff Brohm, head coach, Louisville

While hand-wringing and consternation flooded the Michigan ecosphere on Tuesday with the prospect of Brohm being a candidate, we're told that it was mostly rumormongering. Is he a candidate? To some degree. And while Brohm is a much better coach than the Michigan fan base is giving him credit for, it would be a somewhat uninspiring hire.

Brohm has had excellent offenses (and intermittently good defenses at Louisville) everywhere he's been. And he's done so with lesser talent. He spoke after the Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans like he was staying at his alma mater, but if Michigan came with an offer, he'd also be likely to come to Ann Arbor. He would certainly get the offense humming, and concerns over the defense aren't likely to be as glaring as some might believe.

However, the factionalism in Ann Arbor -- with the administration and the fan base, at the very least -- would be very high if he was the hire. And given that his offense would signal a change in philosophy that would more resemble Ohio State than Jim Harbaugh-coached Michigan, it would take away the potential stylistic advantage that the Wolverines previously had.

Potential: 5/10

Kyle Whittingham, former head coach, Utah

Waiting in the wings has been the recently resigned Whittingham, who has shown interest in the Michigan coaching vacancy. Whittingham has never coached outside of the Mountain West region of the country, having spent the bulk of his time in Utah. A BYU grad, he's been at Utah in some capacity since 1995, having been the head coach there since 2005, succeeding Urban Meyer.

Whittingham is 66 years old and certainly has shown that he can do more with less. He would feel more like a candidate who could stabilize the program for a few years, but he doesn't appear to be a long-term fix for the program.

Potential: 5/10

Eliah Drinkwitz, head coach, Missouri

Drinkwitz has been excellent at Mizzou, a decidedly difficult place to win, especially since it's been in the SEC. He's had solid teams and could run much of what the Wolverines would like. But is this a hire that would galvanize the program? Potentially the opposite.

After having had strong words for the program during the Connor Stalions saga, he's certainly alienated segments of the Michigan ecosphere. Though he's a solid coach, fans aren't exactly clamoring for him to come to Ann Arbor, either. Perhaps that's simply the perception. But having recently signed a contract extension, he'd also be quite expensive to pry loose.

Potential: 4/10

Kalen DeBoer, head coach, Alabama

Despite multiple deflections and denials, DeBoer's candidacy in Ann Arbor won't die until either he signs an extension with the Crimson Tide or Michigan signs a different coach.

The thought was that if Alabama lost to Oklahoma, as was expected by the oddsmakers, DeBoer could quickly defect to a more comfortable and patient Midwest team. However, the Tide won, and now Alabama continues to play on, with a Jan. 1 game against Indiana in the Rose Bowl forthcoming.

DeBoer is a culture fit, even if there are questions about his run game (he could certainly adapt if required). And while it would be a massive public relations win for the Wolverines -- and it could come with some positive transfer portal ramifications -- the timing might not be right, as the portal could go the other way, too, should Michigan wait too long.

Potential: 8/10

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football coaching hot board reset: latest candidates ranked