Jim Harbaugh is off to the NFL to coach the Los Angeles Chargers. Michigan now finds itself in a position where it needs to execute a coaching search to replace Harbaugh, who will become the first national championship coach not to return to his collegiate program the next season since Tom Osborne after the 1997 campaign.
The Wolverines intend to cast a wide net. Perhaps, though, that net will need not extend much further than then end of Schembechler Hall.
Who are we kidding? With Harbaugh off to the NFL, there is one name clearly atop a list of potential replacements: offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore. In his sixth season at Michigan, Moore was already a rising star before he took over as acting coach for four games this past season, including wins over Ohio State and Penn State.
When given a chance to showcase his leadership skills — at least on game day — Moore made a huge difference in Michigan’s national championship season. He knows the culture, the roster, and really, the future in Ann Arbour.
The world got to know Moore more personally after his emotional postgame interview on Fox after the Penn State win.
“I don’t really care about what other people say about it,” Moore said in December. “I made sure I talked to my mom about it, and that’s what really mattered.”
What mattered more that day was Moore calling for 32 straight runs for the Wolverines in that game, which wore down the Nittany Lions defense. He was in charge during a fourth-quarter rally against Alabama in the Rose Bowl semifinal that saved Michigan’s season and led it to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
While the offensive production dipped overall this season, how do you argue with back-to-back Joe Moore Awards (best offensive line) in 2021 and 2022? In 2023, Moore’s unit was incredibly efficient, committing only eight turnovers in 924 offensive snaps. Only two teams were better.
This feels like Moore’s time, and being an in-house candidate, Michigan could move quickly to name him Harbaugh’s replacement. So, yes, he is far and away the top choice for the maize & blue.
Further enhancing Moore’s chances? Coaches who would have otherwise been high on this list are off the board entirely after landing new gigs: Kalen DeBoer (Washington to Alabama) and Jonathan Smith (Oregon State to Michigan State).
Sherrone Moore, Michigan offensive coordinator: The year couldn’t…
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