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Michigan’s coaching search continues to expand, and it’s becoming increasingly clear the Wolverines are casting a wide, deliberate net as they look for their next head coach.
More than two weeks after parting ways with Sherrone Moore, Michigan is still in evaluation mode. New names are surfacing, timelines are becoming clearer, and the picture suggests this process is far from rushed.
According to Pete Thamel, speaking Wednesday on Get Up, Michigan is not expected to make a coaching hire before Christmas or right afterward.
That report aligns with how the search has unfolded so far. Michigan appears focused on thorough vetting, not quick optics, even as the college football calendar keeps moving.
Thamel also identified three coaches currently viewed as prime candidates:
- Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)
- Jedd Fisch (Washington)
- Kyle Whittingham, who recently announced he’s stepping away from Utah
.@PeteThamel gives an update on Michigan’s head coaching search ✍️ pic.twitter.com/OxXixtOds9
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 24, 2025
Those names signal Michigan’s interest in proven program builders, not developmental gambles.
Todd Monken Now Being Vetted by Michigan
While college head coaches headline the early reports, Michigan is also exploring NFL options, and one prominent name has entered the mix.
According to Football Scoop, Michigan has begun vetting Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and is expected to speak with him. Monken, currently in his third season under Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, brings a rare blend of NFL innovation and deep college experience.
The 59-year-old Monken has extensive Midwest ties, including early coaching stops at Grand Valley State and Eastern Michigan, along with major roles at Oklahoma State, LSU, Georgia, and as head coach at Southern Miss.
Monken has openly expressed a desire to return to the head-coaching ranks, having interviewed for NFL head-coaching jobs last offseason before signing a contract extension with Baltimore in February.
Why Monken Fits the Michigan Profile
Monken checks several boxes Michigan appears to value:
- Extensive college head-coaching experience
- Proven quarterback and offensive development
- Familiarity with Big Ten–style football
- Experience managing elite talent and high expectations
While NFL coordinators don’t always translate smoothly back to the college game, Monken’s resume is unusually well-suited for that transition, especially at a program navigating NIL, transfer portal churn, and schematic evolution.
Interim HC Biff Poggi Already Fielding Interviews
As Michigan continues its search, its interim head coach is not waiting around.
Biff Poggi has acknowledged that he has already participated in multiple head-coaching interviews elsewhere. That development adds another layer of urgency behind the scenes, even if Michigan itself is staying patient.
It also reinforces why the university wants clarity, not just for the roster and recruiting, but for staff continuity moving forward.
A Search Focused on Fit, Not Speed
Taken together, the picture is clear:
- Michigan is not rushing a hire
- College head coaches remain the primary focus
- NFL experience is being seriously explored
- The final decision likely comes after the holidays
Whether the Wolverines land a sitting Power Five head coach or pivot toward an NFL-tested offensive mind like Monken, the goal is the same: stability, credibility, and long-term direction.
Michigan knows this hire will define its next chapter. And everything about this search suggests they intend to get it right.
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Don Drysdale
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