Michigan fired head football coach Brady Hoke roughly two weeks ago, and the Wolverines are still looking for someone to replace him. The rumor mill is running rampant, so here's the latest on their coaching search:
JIM HARBAUGH
San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been the leading candidate for the job since reports came out that he would not return as the 49ers head coach next season. The 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Seattle Seahawks, meaning their season only has two more weeks left.
Harbaugh's future in San Francisco will likely be determined in the days immediately following the end of the NFL's regular season. Many assume (and probably rightfully so) that Michigan has been moving slowly in their coaching search to wait until Harbaugh becomes available, and now they'll only have to wait two more weeks.
If Harbaugh does end up at Michigan, it will happen very quickly, as the Wolverines are fully prepared to offer him the job. If he takes a job somewhere else, or stays in San Francisco, the search could drag on substantially longer.
JIM MORA
There were reports shortly after Hoke was fired that UCLA head coach Jim Mora wanted the Michigan job, and that seemed to gain a lot of momentum. He hasn't come out and addressed the reports of him leaving for Ann Arbor, but Mora has ranted and raved about how much he loves UCLA and this might just be a ploy to get him a raise. Michigan will give him a call after Harbaugh, but Mora might not have real interest.
DAN MULLEN
Mississippi State's head coach has seen his name come up as a top candidate for numerous top jobs, and Michigan plans to pursue him. Interim athletic director Jim Hackett and the Board of Regents would both be on board with hiring Mullen, who led the Bulldogs to the No. 1 national ranking this year. This is a possibility if Mullen believes it's easier to make the College Football Playoff and win at a higher level at Michigan.
OTHER NOTES
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has all been linked to the job at some point or another, though they seem to have fallen behind the three coaches listed above. All are still considered serious candidates, but it's clear that Harbaugh, Mora, and Mullen are Michigan's top three choices.
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