5 Michigan Coaching Candidates: 5 coaches it won’t get, but needs to give it a try
Michigan won’t hire any of these five head coaches. It’s not doing its job, though, if it doesn’t give them a thought or a look, starting with the craziest of the crazy throw-at-the-wall idea …
5. Dabo Swinney, Clemson head coach
It’s not like the Clemson program is totally falling into the abyss, but things are changing, he lost a slew of his key assistants over the last few years, and it might be time for change of scenery – if he’s looking for one.
There’s a bit of a buyout problem, but it’s not like the payout is what it would be if he left for Alabama – which is probably his next gig whenever Nick Saban decides it’s time to do something else.
If Michigan was willing to go hard and make a massive ten-year commitment, it would be a pay raise for Dabo, and it would be the right Next Job Up if it’s not Alabama.
But no, Michigan isn’t getting Dabo Swinney. So to turn this to the land of the possible …
4. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern head coach
There were rumors and rumblings that Fitzgerald might be right for Michigan back with the job was open after the Rich Rodriguez era, but there wasn’t anything to them.
It might make more sense this time around.
Pat Fitzgerald will always be Northwestern through and through, but 1) he’s only making just over $3 million a year, 2) the writing is on the wall – forget about ever playing for the Big Ten Championship again if the Big Ten gets rid of divisions – and 3) it’s been a 16-year run in Evanston. He performed miracles, and now it’s time to see what he can do at a place like Michigan.
But we’ve done this before with Fitzgerald and it didn’t happen, so …
3. Dave Aranda, Baylor head coach
I spent years stumping for Billy Napier as the Next Big Thing head coach – he eventually was so good he got the Florida job. Now Aranda is my pound-fist-on-table-for guy.
He’s a rising superstar.
Fully aware that this could come back to bite me big, LSU should’ve grabbed its former defensive coordinator instead of Brian Kelly.
Lost in the bad 2020 was that it was 2020, and Matt Rhule sort of left when the cupboard was a bit bare. It was going to be a rebuilding year for Baylor no matter what.
After going 2-7, Aranda cleaned some things up, went 12-2 with a Big 12 title, won the Sugar Bowl, and finished in the top five.
At Baylor.
He’s it. He’s the stock to buy low, because you’re not getting him in two years.
Now, if you really want to swing for the fences, Michigan …