Jeff Brohm Shuts Down Michigan Rumors After Boca Raton Bowl Win
Jeff Brohm’s name might be buzzing in Ann Arbor, but the Louisville head coach isn’t biting.
After leading his Cardinals to a Boca Raton Bowl win over Toledo on Dec. 23, Brohm made it clear he’s not entertaining the Michigan job - or any job, for that matter. Asked about the speculation, Brohm shut it down with the kind of directness that leaves little room for interpretation: he’s happy at Louisville and not looking elsewhere.
That hasn’t stopped his name from surfacing in Michigan’s coaching search. The Wolverines are in the market for a new leader after parting ways with Sherrone Moore on Dec.
- Moore was dismissed following a university investigation and now faces serious criminal charges, including home invasion and stalking.
In the wake of that situation, Michigan is casting a wide net - and Brohm’s track record makes him an obvious name to consider.
Why Brohm Keeps Coming Up
Brohm’s résumé speaks for itself. Since taking the reins at Louisville in December 2022, he’s engineered a fast and impressive turnaround. In just three seasons, the Cardinals have gone 28-12, a stretch that includes some program-defining wins.
Last season, Louisville made history with a road win over No. 11 Clemson - their first ever in Death Valley.
They also snapped a five-game losing streak to in-state rival Kentucky. Perhaps most impressively, the Cardinals scored at least 24 points in every game - the only team in the country to do so.
That offensive consistency is a Brohm trademark, and it’s part of what makes him such an attractive candidate for any major program. He builds explosive, balanced attacks that get results. His first year at Louisville ended with a 10-4 record and an ACC Championship Game appearance, earning him a semifinalist nod for the Steve Spurrier First Year Coach of the Year Award.
A Builder at Every Stop
Brohm didn’t just show up at Louisville and find a ready-made winner. He inherited a team that needed work and quickly turned it into a contender - something he’s done before.
Before returning to his alma mater, Brohm spent six seasons at Purdue, where he took over a program that had won just nine games in the four years prior. By 2022, he had them atop the Big Ten West.
His Purdue teams didn’t just win - they made statements. Brohm’s Boilermakers knocked off three top-three teams in a five-year span: No.
2 Ohio State in 2018, No. 2 Iowa in 2021, and No.
3 Michigan State later that same year. His 2021 squad finished with nine wins - Purdue’s best season in nearly 20 years.
Go back even further, and you’ll find Brohm’s early head coaching success at Western Kentucky. From 2014 to 2016, he led the Hilltoppers to a 30-10 record and back-to-back Conference USA titles. Everywhere he’s gone, the results have followed.
Deep Louisville Roots
If Michigan is serious about Brohm, they’ll have to overcome more than just a financial hurdle. Brohm isn’t just coaching at Louisville - he’s home.
He played quarterback for the Cardinals from 1989 to 1993, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns. He’s a Louisville native, a hometown hero, and someone who’s deeply tied to the program and the city.
That connection matters. It’s why, despite Michigan’s brand power and the allure of a Big Ten blueblood, Brohm’s public stance has been firm. He’s not shopping for a new gig.
What’s Next for Michigan?
Despite Brohm’s comments, Michigan’s search continues. Athletic director Warde Manuel reportedly told players he hopes to have a new coach in place before the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.
Could Michigan still make a run at Brohm? Sure.
In college football, denials don’t always mean the door is closed. But in this case, Brohm’s words - and his actions - carry weight.
He’s building something at Louisville, and he’s doing it at a place that means more to him than just wins and losses.
For now, Jeff Brohm is staying put. And given what he’s done in just three seasons, Louisville fans have every reason to feel good about that.