Michigan’s head coaching search is dragging on, and while that may seem like a problem for the Wolverines, it’s also quietly creating tension down in Athens. Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has been a name to watch throughout this process - and every day Michigan goes without filling its vacancy, the Bulldogs hold their breath just a little longer.
Schumann’s stock has been rising for a while now. He’s widely respected as one of the brightest defensive minds in college football, and his work with Georgia’s defense over the past few seasons speaks for itself. So when Michigan struck out on its top two coaching targets, the concern in Athens was that Schumann might suddenly become the next man up.
But as of now, there’s a twist in the plot - and it could be good news for Georgia. Todd Monken, a former Bulldogs assistant and a key architect of their back-to-back national championships, has reportedly emerged as Michigan’s leading candidate.
Monken knows what it takes to win at the highest level. During his time as Georgia’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020 to 2022, he helped transform the Bulldogs’ offense into a finely tuned machine.
His balanced, creative play-calling complemented Georgia’s elite defense perfectly, and the results were historic. Two national titles later, Monken was off to the NFL, taking over as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator in 2023.
Now, Michigan appears to be looking to bring him back to the college ranks.
This wouldn’t be Monken’s first head coaching job. He led Southern Miss from 2013 to 2015, taking over a program that had hit rock bottom.
His first season was rough - just one win - but by his third year, he’d engineered a turnaround that ended with a 9-5 record and a bowl appearance, their first in three seasons. That kind of rebuild doesn’t happen by accident.
Monken proved he could lead a program, and now he might get the chance to do it again - this time on one of the biggest stages in college football.
For Georgia, the implications are clear. If Monken lands the Michigan job, Schumann likely stays put in Athens, and that would be a major win for Kirby Smart’s staff. Schumann has been instrumental in keeping Georgia’s defense among the nation’s elite, and retaining him would help maintain the continuity and culture that’s defined the Bulldogs’ recent dominance.
Of course, Michigan’s coaching search has been anything but straightforward. With top targets slipping through and new names emerging seemingly every few days, the situation remains fluid. But if Monken is indeed the frontrunner now, Georgia fans can breathe a little easier - at least for the moment.
In the high-stakes world of college football coaching searches, timing and connections matter. Monken checks both boxes for Michigan. And for Georgia, that could mean dodging a bullet - and keeping one of their most valuable defensive minds right where they want him.