Michigan’s dream head coach hire just left the door wide open for a move to Ann Arbor

Michigan’s head coaching search is anything but straightforward. The University has commissioned an investigation into the athletic department regarding Sherrone Moore’s alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer, and could be taking steps to replace Warde Manuel as athletic director. 

Yet, as a blue-blood program still only two years removed from a national champion, Michigan will be a highly coveted job. The program can immediately kick the coaching carousel back into a frenzy if it makes a major move, and it has an incentive to push for a big-time hire as Bryce Underwood, its $12 million quarterback, enters his sophomore and potentially penultimate year. 

The desire for an offensive-minded head coach has led many to connect the dots to Jedd Fisch, once a quarterbacks coach under Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor and now the head coach at Washington. However, the dream hire in the eyes of many Michigan fans is Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham. 

The 35-year-old former Oregon offensive coordinator led a miraculous turnaround at his alma mater, leading the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Title and the College Football Playoff in 2024 with 11 wins after going 3-9 in his first year. 

While Dillingham’s name has been floated for other big-time openings this coaching cycle, including LSU, he was not a part of this year’s round of contract extensions that saw Curt Cignetti, Mike Elko, Matt Rhule, Eli Drinkwitz, Clark Lea, Brent Key, and Kalani Sitake sign extensions. Dillingham’s loyalty to his alma mater remains the thing tying him to the program, but it sounds as though that may not be strong enough to keep him in Tempe forever. 

Dillingham was asked about the Michigan rumors on Tuesday, and didn’t exactly put the rumors to bed. 

Kenny Dillingham talks around Michigan rumors instead of putting them to bed

Dillingham told the media, “My job is to try to do whatever I can for the people that are with me.” That’s not necessarily the university, but rather, Dillingham’s assistants, staff, and even players who could potentially follow him to Ann Arbor. And what might be best for them is leveling up to a bigger program with more resources.

While he previously appeared to be locked in with Arizona State for the long term, he may be coming to grips with the limitations of the program. This offseason, his two-year starting quarterback, Sam Leavitt, is expected to depart the program for the transfer portal.

At a place like Michigan, it’s not likely he’d ever be losing his quarterback to a higher bidder. Plus, the chance to coach Bryce Underwood rather than dive back into the transfer portal to find Leavitt’s replacement may sound more enticing to Dillingham by the day. 

Michigan needs to do whatever it can to maximize the three or four years that Underwood is in Ann Arbor. Getting an offensive-minded coach like Dillingham would be a step in the right direction, and if he’s leaving the door open at all, Michigan needs to convince him to walk out of it.