Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan: Who will replace him?

As long expected, Jim Harbaugh will in fact depart Michigan for the NFL, and now the Wolverines are on the search for a new football coach

After helping revive the Michigan football program over the last three seasons, beating Ohio State three straight times, winning that many Big Ten titles, and securing three College Football Playoff appearances, culminating in the school's first national championship this century, Jim Harbaugh is gone.

As many had feared, Harbaugh finally took the plunge by returning to the NFL ranks, where he had earned plenty of success before arriving in Ann Arbor, announcing he will coach the Los Angeles Chargers going forward. 

Now, at its zenith, Michigan will have to regroup and find the man who will replace Harbaugh and maintain his success and carry the Wolverines into a historic 2024 season with an expanded Big Ten and playoff. Who's up for the job?

Sherrone Moore

Moore has plenty going for him. He's young, just 37. And he has experience coaching this football team, stepping in as interim during Harbaugh's late-season suspension.

Moore led Michigan to a road win against a top-10 ranked Penn State team, beat Maryland in a would-be trap game on the road, and took down the Buckeyes at home. Players are very high on him.

But there's the question of a likely pending NCAA punishment for the program stemming from the sign-stealing investigation. Should the NCAA find that Moore was in any way involved, the school may just want a new face.

Jesse Minter

Should Michigan promote someone inside the program, it would likely be Moore, given the impression he made as the interim, and if Minter were to get the nod, it could ruffle some feathers given the former's successful handling of the team during Harbaugh's suspension.

But the Wolverines defensive coordinator has held the same position with other teams and boasts NFL experience that recruits may be interested in.

Again, there will be questions around the sign-stealing allegations, but his handling of the defense has been superb. The unit ranked No. 1 nationally in total production during its national championship run.

Chris Klieman

Klieman, 56, won 19 games at Kansas State over the last two seasons, including a Big 12 Championship upset against then-playoff team TCU. 

He also won four FCS national championships at North Dakota State.

Before last season, Klieman signed an eight-year contract that will pay him $5.5 million per year. 

Should he back out of that deal to coach another school, he would owe Kansas State a $6 million buyout.

Lance Leipold

Leipold's turnaround job at Kansas is of legendary proportions already. One of the very worst programs nationally, the Jayhawks have taken giant leaps forward under his management.

KU went from winning two games to winning six and then nine games over three years, finished this past season in the AP top 25, and won a statement upset over Oklahoma.

Matt Campbell

The 44-year-old Ohio native has been at Iowa State for the last eight seasons and has seen his star rise and fall somewhat in that time. 

His best outing came in 2020 when the Cyclones won 9 games and the Fiesta Bowl. But since then, Campbell is 18-20 and his teams haven't been ranked in the last three seasons.

Still he has only two losing seasons, has shown he can build a program, and it's interesting to wonder what he can accomplish in a more elite setting with greater resources and a fresh start at a school that just won a national title.

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