Michigan Football: Brady Hoke Means More to Wolverines Than Denard Robinson

Denard Robinson was a catalyst for the Michigan Wolverines last season, spurring them to an 11-2 record and Sugar Bowl victory.

But you can't talk about the Wolverines' rise last season without talking about Brady Hoke, and he's one of the main reasons why the Wolverines have a top-10 recruiting class this year.

Hoke and the Wolverines already had an outstanding recruiting season this year, picking up nine ESPNU Top 150 recruits.

But they added Top 150 guard Patrick Krugler and receiver Jaron Dukes last week, putting an exclamation mark on the offseason.

Both commits said the quality of the coaching staff was a big part of their decisions.

Dukes said after committing, via the Detroit Free Press:

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"I’ve just been talking it over with my family. I loved the visit, I loved everything about Michigan when I went up there. I also loved the coaches, and my feelings about Michigan have never changed.”

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Hoke and the Wolverines have stayed neck-and-neck with Urban Meyer and their Big Ten rivals this year. ESPNU ranks Ohio State's and Michigan's recruiting classes sixth and seventh respectively.

Beyond keeping up with Meyer, Hoke has a history of leading struggling programs back to relevance.

Before becoming head coach of the Wolverines last year, Hoke led Ball State and San Diego State to resurrections. He coached Ball State to a 12-1 record in 2008 and led SDSU to a 9-4 mark in 2010. Both programs had a history of mediocrity before he arrived.

The Wolverines wouldn't have made it to the Sugar Bowl last season without Robinson. But it also must be said that they wouldn't have made it without Hoke.

Michigan went 15-22 from 2008-2010 with Rich Rodriguez at the helm, despite Robinson's unbelievable play in 2010.

In one year, Hoke completely transformed the football program.

That's not a fluke.