The Michigan Wolverines are just two years removed from college football’s mountaintop, but the program’s current state paints a far more complicated picture. Despite the recent championship pedigree, questions are swirling around the attractiveness of the head coaching job in Ann Arbor - and Paul Finebaum isn’t pulling any punches.
On a recent appearance on The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum laid out a blunt assessment of where Michigan stands in the college football landscape. His take? The Wolverines job, once one of the crown jewels of the sport, is now among the least appealing high-profile openings in the country.
“Why would anyone want that job?” Finebaum asked. “There’s simply no leadership, no alignment, and the stench of the Harbaugh regime still permeates the air.”
That’s a strong statement, but it’s rooted in the chaos that’s followed Jim Harbaugh’s departure. Harbaugh delivered the ultimate prize - a national championship - before heading to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers.
But his exit didn’t come clean. His final seasons were marred by a sign-stealing scandal, recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period, and NCAA sanctions.
Those issues didn’t just disappear when he left.
And if Michigan hoped for a smooth transition, that didn’t happen either. Sherrone Moore, Harbaugh’s hand-picked successor, was fired earlier this month after allegations surfaced about an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. That’s two high-profile exits in less than a year, both under clouds of controversy.
Meanwhile, athletic director Warde Manuel remains in place - a fact that Finebaum believes only adds to the perception of dysfunction. Manuel has overseen this entire stretch of upheaval, yet his position appears secure. That stability at the top might normally be a good thing, but in this case, it’s fueling concerns about internal accountability and alignment.
Michigan has already seen some potential coaching targets slip away. Kenny Dillingham re-upped with Arizona State, and Kalen DeBoer has his hands full leading Alabama in the College Football Playoff.
As for who might be next in line, there’s no clear frontrunner. Names like Biff Poggi have been floated - perhaps on a short-term basis - but nothing has taken shape yet.
Finebaum believes the next hire has to be about more than just winning games. It has to be someone who can stabilize the program and rebuild its credibility - someone who can reestablish trust both inside and outside the walls of Schembechler Hall.
Among the names being discussed are veteran coaches like Kyle Whittingham, Brian Kelly, and Ed Orgeron. All three bring experience, toughness, and a track record of winning at the highest levels - but would any of them take on a job with this much baggage?
That’s the real question.
For a program that expects to compete for Big Ten titles and more, the reality right now is that Michigan may need to reset its expectations. Before the Wolverines can think about another national championship run, they need to find the right leader to steady the ship - someone who can navigate the post-Harbaugh fallout, restore order, and lay a new foundation.
Because right now, for all the banners hanging in Ann Arbor, Michigan is a program searching for direction.