Joel Klatt has Michigan eyeing 3 HC candidates, including one that might surprise you

The coaching carousel continues to turn, but only barely so... At this time, only the Michigan Wolverines and the Missouri State Bears are without a head coach heading into the 2026 season. Sherrone Moore was let go at Michigan last week for scandalous reasons. Outgoing Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard will now take over for Tim Beck at Coastal Carolina. Those are the last two...

However, all signs point to the coaching carousel beginning to turn even a bit more, especially if Joel Klatt had any say in the matter. He said on The Joel Klatt Show that he believes three names are still very much in play to take over at Michigan. The coaches would be Kalen DeBoer of Alabama, Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State, and Clark Lea of Vanderbilt. The last one is the name that is intriguing.

Here is what Klatt had to say on the matter during the latest episode of his show earlier in the week.

This comes on the heels of Klatt previously mentioning Dan Lanning of Oregon, Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame, and Mike Elko of Texas A&M as other candidates. He has effectively crossed each of them off his list, leaving us with DeBoer, Dillingham, and Lea. DeBoer has been Michigan's top target, but he has a playoff game to attend to. Dillingham and Lea are leading their respective alma maters..

So while DeBoer and Dillingham seem the most likely, let's unpack why Lea might be a great fit here.

Joel Klatt keeps mentioning Clark Lea as a HC candidate for Michigan

The big thing that Klatt wanted to get across to his viewers was the notion of a head coach getting an extension does not really mean anything. They are like hockey goalies. Just because a guy is there trying to stop the puck from going into the net does not mean you cannot score on him. Guys like Lea and Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz used the Penn State vacancy to land big extensions.

Truth be told, the optics of DeBoer leaving Alabama after two years and following a playoff run would be a such a terrible look for him. This may be the one job he may consider leaving Alabama for, but he would come across as a massive opportunist. SEC fans will crucify him, just like Lane Kiffin turning heel in Magnolia. This is why maybe the best option is to try and pursue either Dillingham or Lea here.

Let's be real honest with ourselves. For as much as Dillingham and Lea would love to stay leading their respective alma maters, how close are they to operating at their programs' ceiling? Arizona State made the playoff last year after winning the Big 12. The Sun Devils almost beat Texas in the Peach Bowl. Despite winning a program-best 10 wins this season, Vanderbilt was not a playoff team.

Overall, Lea's vision for turning Vanderbilt around could parlay into something quite tasty at Michigan. He took the SEC's biggest doormat and turned it into a team nobody wants to play on their schedule. Lea has done it in a wholesome manner in a massive metropolis with plenty of distractions. Given his ties to the region previously at Notre Dame, Lea might have an easier time transitioning than others.

Again, Lea feels like a bit of a long shot, but Michigan cannot hire just anybody to replace Moore here.