3 worst head coach hires in Michigan football history

1. Rich Rodriguez (2008-2010)

Rich Rod was one of the most consequential hires in Michigan football history because it set the program back for nearly a decade.

When Lloyd Carr announced his retirement, there was talk of Les Miles being his replacement. There was the whole Kirk Herbstreit controversy but John U. Bacon has always insisted Miles wasn't offered the job.

LSU did win the national title though and that probably spoiled the Michigan coaching search more than anything else. Rich Rodriguez was an up-and-comer from West Virginia who ran the spread offense. He wasn't a "Michigan Man" and never got the support he needed.

Rodriguez was also a disaster. His offenses could move the ball and put up points, but his defenses were atrocious. He made Michigan football a laughing stock, even though he recruited some highly-ranked recruits to Ann Arbor.

Yet, it was clear after a 3-9 season in 2008 that it was going to be a struggle. Michigan won five games the next season and seven in 2010. Maybe, if Michigan had struck with Rich Rod and gave him the proper support, it could have gone differently.

But alls well that ends well. As bad as Hoke and Rich Rod were, they eventually led to Jim Harbaugh, which led to Michigan football's most recent national championship this season.