Michigan’s coaching search took two big hits in less than 10 hours.
Going into Friday night’s first-round CFP game between Alabama and Oklahoma, Michigan was reportedly still holding out hope that it could lure Kalen DeBoer away from Tuscaloosa if the Crimson Tide lost to the Sooners. The Wolverines’ other top target was believed to be Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham.
But the Crimson Tide came back from a 17-0 deficit to beat Oklahoma, 34-24, likely ending Michigan’s hopes of poaching DeBoer. About nine hours after that game ended, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Dillingham had signed a contract extension with Arizona State, taking him also out of the running to be the Wolverines’ new head coach.
While DeBoer hasn’t yet signed a contract extension with Alabama, he has already committed to staying in Tuscaloosa, releasing a statement last week in which he said he had “no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job.” That didn’t silence the speculation that he could look to make a move if the Crimson Tide lost to the Sooners, but it would now come as a shock if DeBoer left Alabama, regardless of what happens against Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
Dillingham had also made clear that his intent was to stay at Arizona State, his alma mater. Talking to reporters last week, Dillingham called Michigan “one of the best programs in the country” but expressed his love for ASU, explaining that it was home for both him and his family, with his sister and parents living down the road. Still, rumors that Dillingham would consider leaving for Michigan persisted until Saturday morning, when his contract extension made clear that he won’t be going anywhere.
A very emotional and choked up Kenny Dillingham on why he wants to stay at ASU:
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) December 13, 2025
I love this place. pic.twitter.com/dZEkDnObfx
Those developments leave Michigan without a clear target to be its new head coach 10 days after it fired Sherrone Moore for cause after an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Other coaches whose names have been linked to the job include Washington coach Jedd Fisch, Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz, former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham (who stepped down as Utah’s coach last week) and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Michigan’s former defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh in 2022 and 2023. As of Saturday morning, however, it was unclear whether Michigan had strong interest in any of those coaches or how much interest any of those coaches have in the Michigan job.
