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Top 5 Candidates To Replace Brady Hoke As New Michigan Head Coach

Top 5 Candidates To Replace Brady Hoke As Michigan Head Coach

Brady Hoke
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Sitting at 5-6 with a trip to Columbus looming, Brady Hoke is unlikely to make a bowl game and should be the biggest coach fired on college football’s “Black Monday” next week. While these candidates may not be interested in leaving their current job, Michigan's interim AD Jim Hackett should give these five men a call first.

5. Tom Herman, OC Ohio State

Ohio State
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tom Herman, OC Ohio State

Ohio State
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

It would be hard to see Herman cross the line directly from one side to the other in such a fabled rivalry, but his offenses at Rice and Iowa State were historic for those schools. Since arriving at Ohio State, Herman has presided over dynamic and explosive offenses and will be a hot name until he jumps to a head job somewhere.

4. Butch Jones, HC Tennessee

Butch Jones
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

4. Butch Jones, HC Tennessee

Butch Jones
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Jones is from Michigan and built Central Michigan into a high-level MAC program. He also turned Cincinnati into a solid Big East outfit. The problem here is his short stint so far at Tennessee. The Volunteers are a young team on the rise, and Butch’s strong recruiting and regional ties would be an intriguing combination to bring to Ann Arbor. Caution remains as Jones has not proven himself a winner at the Power 5 level yet.

3. Dan Mullen, HC Mississippi State

Dan Mullen
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3. Dan Mullen, HC Mississippi State

Dan Mullen
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Mullen’s Bulldogs are in the middle of a historic season at Mississippi State, but it is a senior-laden team. Mullen may take a step back in Starkville next year and the Bulldogs' ceiling in a loaded SEC West is limited. Michigan would love to bring in a proven coach and recruiter with an innovative offensive mind, yet it is pretty unlikely he will leave the south at this point.

2. Bob Stoops, HC Oklahoma

Bob Stoops
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2. Bob Stoops, HC Oklahoma

Bob Stoops
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Stoops is on the record saying he is not interested in leaving Oklahoma at this time, but he would be an ideal candidate at any major opening in many respects. Some fans feel like Stoops has run his course in Norman, but the majority of them are probably happy to have him. This is probably the most unlikely candidate to bolt for Michigan on this list, but he may also be the most attractive of them all.

1. Jim Harbaugh, HC San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jim Harbaugh, HC San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The storylines are perfect. Harbaugh seems like a lock to move on from the 49ers after this season, and his alma mater will probably beg for his return. No man would unite the Michigan fanbase like this old Wolverine quarterback, and he’s pretty good at winning too. Many in the NFL feel his tough-love approach fits better in college, and there’s little doubt Harbaugh would be an excellent recruiter.

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