Michigan Football: 10 Best Plan C Hires After Les Miles and Jim Harbaugh Debacle

Michigan football is in dire straits. Wolverines fans must feel like the lonely kid at the dance no one wants to talk to about right now. They were sure one of the two alums currently coaching in college football would come to their aid. That has not been the case.

When the Wolverines fired head coach Rich Rodriguez, they felt they had a real shot at the Stanford Cardinal wizard, Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh has since spurned not only Michigan, but Stanford as well. He will be the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Fine. They didn't want him anyway. They really wanted Les Miles. He would come to Michigan from LSU, right? He wanted the job before they pounced on Rich Rodriguez in 2008. Wrong again.

Now they must go to plan C. Here is the cast of characters that will-and-should get love from the once-great Michigan Wolverines.

10. Dan Mullen

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs directs play against the Alabama Crimson Tide November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

When Urban Meyer stepped down from the Florida gig for health reasons, Dan Mullen's name immediately came up as a possibility. It made sense. He led the offense that won a national title there and was currently the head coach of a very successful Mississippi State program.

But this is not the answer for Dan Mullen. He has a good thing going with the Bulldogs. If he didn't leave for Florida, he won't bolt for Michigan.

9. Gary Patterson

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Gary Patterson of the TCU Horned Frogs stands on the sidelines against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Michigan football is a big-time program. It is just debatable how big it is currently. A decade ago, any of these coaches would have sold their first born for a chance to lead the Wolverines. That is not the case anymore.

The Wolverines would jump at the chance of signing a coach of Gary Patterson's ilk. Too bad that won't happen. Patterson is taking the TCU program to great heights. He just won the Rose Bowl and will have his program secured in the automatic bowl bid conference of the Big East in 2012.

8. Pat Fitzgerald

If you can't beat them, join them. Fitzgerald would go up a notch if he bolted the sidelines of Northwestern for the prestigious Michigan sidelines. Michigan would love to snag Fitzgerald. He has turned around the Northwestern program in recent years. He has had it in three straight bowl appearances.

Most of all, he would be the defensive-minded coach Michigan has been searching for. The sad news is that he recently committed to Northwestern, saying he will not be looking at Michigan. I am sure that would change if they threw a boatload of cash his way.

7. Jon Gruden

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 08: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches during a game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 8, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Let the Jon Gruden coaching rumors commence once again. He was recently in Ann Arbor. That fact is that all Wolverines need to salivate at the possibility that Gruden will take on the job at Michigan. It is clear that he wants to coach again. Imagine what he could do with an offense already geared to the spread offense.

But the fact is, Gruden wants an NFL gig. Super Bowl champions don't return back to the college game. It just doesn't happen. Oh, Bill Walsh—you got me there.

6. David Shaw

The Stanford Cardinal are also in the hunt to fill their coaching vacancy after Jim Harbaugh left for the big leagues. David Shaw is certainly on their radar.

Shaw is the offensive coordinator for Stanford. If Michigan is looking for a return to their old-school style of a running game, the Wolverines can do worse than taking a chance on Shaw. The knock here is that he has no head coaching experience and he very well could end up at the helm of the Pac-10 giant.

5. Jim Mora

So if Michigan wants an NFL-caliber coach to lead the team, it may have to settle for Jim Mora. He may be the right guy for the task. He is a defensive-minded coach that likes to run the ball. That is precisely what the Wolverines are looking for: A team that grinds it out and is tough on defense could take down Ohio State in time.

But this team is not set up for that. It is set up to be an explosive offensive juggernaut. Mora would have to be ready for the long haul. He would have to recruit his own guys and the Wolverines would have to be patient. I believe both parties would do well staying clear of each other.

4. Calvin Magee

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon would love to hire a tested and highly-seasoned coach. The trouble is all the candidates with head coaching experience are saying no to him.

Well it may be time to promote from within. The most likely candidate to get a shot at the head coaching vacancy is Calvin Magee. He will do well with what the team already has, as he is the current offensive coordinator. He also happens to be the 2007 American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Broyles Award.

The knock here is that he came on with Rich Rodriguez. Michigan brass has made it clear that it wants to distance itself from that era immediately.

3. Mike Bellotti

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 30: Head Coach Mike Bellotti of the University of Oregon Ducks looks on from the sidelines against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys during the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 30, 2008 in San Diego,

Rumors are swirling that former Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti is interested in returning to the gridiron. The only caveat is that he may return to take the spot left by Harbaugh at Stanford.

All Michigan needs to know is that Bellotti is available. That should be enough to make a preliminary call to gauge interest. Bellotti is that good. He is the man that put Oregon on the map. Through 13 seasons, the Oregon coach posted a 116-55 record. More than that, he instituted an explosive offense that was a treat to watch.

It was what Rich Rodriguez tried to do at Michigan, only functional.

2. Bo Pelini

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Bo Pelini of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads his team against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners beat the Cornhuskers 23-20. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty

Bo Pelini has done it all. He has been a linebackers coach in the NFL and is currently the head coach at Nebraska. He is defensive-minded and has proven to be able to command a top program. Since 2008, he has brought the Cornhuskers a 30-12 record. Most importantly, he is 3-1 in bowl games during that time.

You can bet that Pelini will be getting a call from Michigan. But does he answer? Michigan cannot suffer another public failure at hiring a top name coach. Remember that Pelini is a former Ohio State player. He also has a cushy job at a top football program already.

1. Brady Hoke

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

MUNCIE, IN - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Brady Hoke of the Ball State Cardinals stands on the field during the Mid-American Conference (MAC) game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Scheumann Stadium November 25, 2008 in Muncie, Indiana. (Photo by Andy

Michigan may have to settle for a great coach from a much smaller school. It will do well to ink Brady Hoke to a contract if it can convince him to jump ship from San Diego State. Hoke knows his way around Ann Arbor. He was the defensive line coach under Lloyd Carr.

The part of his resume that jumps out is what he has done in San Diego. He has quickly turned the Aztecs into a formidable football team that can match wits with the big boys. They just won the Poinsettia Bowl coming off a fantastic season.

This season alone they beat No. 23 Air Force and pushed No. 3 TCU to the limit. They also narrowly missed out on upsetting Utah. Michigan may have its man in Hoke.