Michigan Head Coach Search: Latest News and Rumors on Position

The Michigan Wolverines must find a new head coach after relieving Brady Hoke of his duties following a miserable 2014 season. San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano are some of the bigger names being rumored as candidates, with several others bound to emerge along the way.

David Cutcliffe has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, but Duke has denied that its coach has been contacted. 

Continue for updates.

Wednesday, Dec. 17 

Michigan Offers Monster Contract to Harbaugh

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Michigan has made a six-year, $48 million contract offer to Harbaugh.

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Dan Mullen Denies Contact with Michigan

According to Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen denied any contact with Michigan in regard to its head coaching vacancy:

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Dan Mullen confirmed to the Clarion-Ledger via text message Tuesday morning that he hasn't had any discussions regarding coaching positions at other schools.

Mississippi State's sixth-year coach first told the school's reporter, Bob Carskadon, he's only spoken with athletic director Scott Stricklin regarding a coaching job.

 

"

Monday, Dec. 15

Les Miles Comments on Michigan Job

According to Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com, LSU's Les Miles has no interest in becoming Michigan's next head coach:

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LSU coach Les Miles said Monday he is not a candidate for the open head coaching job at his alma mater Michigan.

In a post-practice session with reporters, Miles declined to be quoted directly but made it clear he has is not seeking the job and has not been contacted personally, or through his agent, Dallas-based George Bass, formally or informally.

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Friday, Dec. 12

Michigan Hires Firm to Aid Search

CBS Sports' Jon Solomon has the latest on Michigan's search for a new head coach:

Wednesday, Dec. 10

Duke Denies Cutcliffe Contact

Nick Baumgarner of MLive.com reports that Duke is denying that head coach David Cutcliffe has been contacted regarding Michigan's head coaching job:

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On Wednesday, a Duke official said that wasn't true.

"Neither coach Cutcliffe nor Kevin White, our vice president and director of athletics, have been contacted by anyone at the University of Michigan regarding that institution's head football coaching vacancy," Duke spokesman Art Chase told MLive.

Chase included third party contact when discussing any reported interactions between the two parties.

"

Previously, Gil Brandt of NFL Network reported that Cutcliffe had turned down an offer from the Wolverines.

Tuesday, Dec. 9 

Michigan Reportedly Reaches out to Les Miles

It took a week, but Michigan has reached out to LSU coach Les Miles about its head coaching vacancy, according to Kyle Bogenschutz of Scout.com:

Friday, Dec. 5

Tim Brown Thinks There's a Big Chance Harbaugh Goes to Michigan

Tim Brown told The Bull and Fox Show on 92.3 The Fan what he thinks about the idea of Harbaugh heading to Michigan:

Gil Brandt Sees Greg Schiano as Possible Front-Runner

NFL.com's Gil Brandt reports what he thinks of Schiano as a candidate:

Miles Addresses Michigan Buzz

Sonny Shipp of 247Sports has the latest on Miles and Michigan:

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“I’m not concerned because I had already talked to Les about that when Kevin first committed, and I talked with him about that when we went up there this summer,” said Mr. Toliver. “I talked to him and his wife when we went up there for the Ole Miss game, so I wasn’t worried or concerned about it. He genuinely stood there and told me it wasn’t going to happen and his wife told us that too.

“Last night, he really put a stop to it. My wife really wanted to ask the question, but she didn’t have to because of the dialogue we were having, so he just went and put it out there. He’s not going to do it. He told us he is not going anywhere and he is fine where he is at, and he is not going to leave what he has going on here. He kind of gave us that look of ‘I would be stupid to leave’. And the thing about it is it is built around his family.”

"

Bleacher Report's Stephen Nelson discusses what it would take for Miles to leave LSU with former Tigers offensive lineman and host of Double Coverage T-Bob Hebert:

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Michigan Fires Hoke, Begins Coaching Search 

The Wolverines fired Brady Hoke Tuesday after a disappointing four-year tenure, according to SportsCenter:

With Hoke now out of the picture, one can only assume that Michigan wants to make a big splash. Hiring Harbaugh would certainly qualify as precisely that for Michigan, but Bleacher Report NFL insider Jason Cole is reporting that Harbaugh's preference is to remain in the NFL, as seen in this video:

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is a great deal of speculation that Harbaugh could be in the midst of his final season with the Niners.

Even if that is ultimately the case, the overwhelming sentiment seems to be that Harbaugh isn't particularly interested in Michigan or any other collegiate job despite his previous success at Stanford.

According to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Harbaugh had a previous opportunity to go the Michigan but passed it up:

Also, Greg Gabriel of 670 The Score believes the chances of Harbaugh returning to his alma mater are thin:

Since Harbaugh has had so much success at every level, Michigan would be wise to at least inquire and keep tabs on him if nothing else.  

Ultimately, though, it seems likely that the Wolverines will have to look elsewhere when it comes to finding their next leader.

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