When the news of Sherrone Moore broke last week at Michigan, all hell broke loose. The story itself was something out of a twisted novel, but there is still a chapter to be filled in Ann Arbor.
Michigan is, without a doubt, one of the best jobs in all of college football. It’s a blueblood program filled with rich history. Two years ago, they were on top of the college football world, but now they are far from it.
After going 8-5 last season, they went 9-3 this year and never felt like a true Big Ten title contender. Just when it seemed like things were trending up, the bottom fell out under Moore due to his own personal issues.
Now, one of the best programs in the country is left scrambling to find a new head coach in mid-December, which is less than ideal. Now I bet you are wondering, what does this all have to do with the Big 12? Well, it’s because the favorite to be the next head coach in Ann Arbor is Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham.
Dillingham is Tempe
If you know anything about the Big 12, you know who Dillingham is. One of the top young coaches in the country, he entered the conference last season with his team picked to finish dead last. And what did he do? He won a Big 12 championship and was a fourth-down play away from beating Texas in the college football playoff.
Even though his 8-4 record this year seems like a disappointment to some, keep in mind that he was without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt for nearly half the season and top receiver Jordyn Tyson. Few coaches could lose their top two offensive players and win eight games.
Plus, Dillingham understands today’s game between the stuff on and off the field as well as anyone out there. He gets the importance that to keep up, you have to be willing to spend. But would he really leave Tempe to take the job in Ann Arbor?
Now, to the average college football fan, it would seem like a no-brainer to leave Arizona State for Michigan due to the name alone. But keep in mind that Kenny Dillingham is from Phoenix and is an Arizona State alum. He is right at home in Tempe and is coaching at his favorite school.
Michigan is a Mess
Under normal circumstances, I would be really worried about him leaving for Michigan. But what is going on in Ann Arbor right now is anything but normal. After firing Moore for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, it appears that more changes could be on the horizon.
The university commissioned the Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to conduct a larger review of the athletic department’s culture, conduct, and procedures following a series of scandals. If anything is found, the school will take immediate action. “If the university learns of information through this investigation or otherwise that warrants a termination of any employee, we will act swiftly, just as we did in the case of Coach Moore,” said Michigan president Domenico Grasso.
For those who don’t know, Grasso is the interim school president after Santa Ono’s departure earlier this year. Also, Athletic Director Warde Manuel, who has led the department since 2016, has not publicly addressed the search, which I find interesting.
So we are talking about a university that is going to try to find a new head football coach, led by an interim school president. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if Michigan has a new president and a new athletic director in the next few months.
I know it’s Michigan, but how many coaches would be willing to leave their alma mater to work for two people who won’t be there by the time your first season comes around? I am sorry, but I have a tough time seeing Kenny leave Arizona State behind to take over a mess at Michigan.
