Michigan Football's Top HC Targets After Sherrone Moore Fired for Violating Policy

Michigan football is the latest school to move on from its head coach.

The Wolverines announced Wednesday that head coach Sherrone Moore has been fired with cause after violating a university policy.

With Moore out after two seasons, here are a handful of possible replacements.

Jesse Minter, DC, Los Angeles Chargers

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Jesse Minter has an impressive resume despite being relatively young.

He landed his first defensive coordinator job in 20011 for Indiana State and went on to serve as George Tech's defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2016. From 2017 to 2020, he served on John Harbaugh's staff with the Baltimore Ravens in a variety of roles, including defensive backs coach.

He returned to the collegiate ranks as Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator in 2021 and was hired at Michigan as defensive coordinator the following year.

In 2023, during the Wolverines' national championship run, Minter orchestrated one of college football's best defenses. Michigan allowed just 10.4 points per game, the best mark in FBS, and just 247 yards per game, which also led the nation.

After the 2023 season, Minter was issued a one-year show-cause for recruiting violations, so he joined Jim Harbaugh's staff in Los Angeles. The Chargers had the best defense in the NFL in 2024 and are among the best in the league this year.

Brian Kelly, Former HC, LSU

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If Michigan really wants to make a splash, Brian Kelly could be the person for the job.

Kelly was fired by LSU in October after mixed results over his first few seasons, earning a $54 million buyout from the school.

Kelly's tenure with the Tigers wasn't the best, but it wasn't long ago that he was considered one of the best coaches in college football. Kelly was Notre Dame's head coach from 2010 to 2011 and led the Fighting Irish to seven seasons with 10 or more wins.

Notre Dame also reached the College Football Playoff twice during Kelly's tenure.

Kelly, who has twice been named the AP College Football Coach of the Year, wasn't a fit for LSU, but he might be just right for Michigan.

Biff Poggi, Associate HC, Michigan

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Given the late firing of Moore, Michigan will be in scramble mode to find its next head coach, so keeping it in-house might be the best choice.

Biff Poggi cut his teeth as a high school coach from 1988 to 2015 before joining Michigan as an analyst in 2016. He returned to the high school ranks from 2017 to 2020, but was back at Michigan as the team's associate head coach from 2021 to 2022.

From there, Poggi landed his first head coaching gig at Charlotte. He spent two seasons with the 49ers, amassing an 8-16 record, and rejoined the Wolverines as associated head coach this season.

While Poggi may not have as much experience as some coaches, Michigan clearly thinks highly of him, as he was named the Wolverines' interim head coach after Moore's firing.