Tag: Tom Herman

Coaching Candidate Rumors

Jim Harbaugh

Brady Hoke’s firing was publicly announced on December 2, so it has been 17 days since Michigan has had a head coach. Obviously, athletic director Jim Hackett is waiting on Jim Harbaugh, who declined comment about the Michigan job when asked on Thursday afternoon. News leaked – from one side or the other – that Harbaugh had been offered a 6-year, $48 million contract but Bruce Feldman says that figure is inaccurate (LINK).

Rumors persist that Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops would be Michigan’s #2 option, but he might be off the table because someone of his coaching stature would not want to play second fiddle to Harbaugh. I say there’s no shame in being the backup to an NFL head coach who would potentially be coming back to his alma mater. That’s not an insult to Stoops, but hey, the guy has won more championships than Harbaugh.

LSU head coach Les Miles told reporters off the record that he would not be coming to Michigan.

A lot of people have been saying that Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen is not even being considered, but he has yet to sign a rumored contract extension with MSU. He may not be on Michigan’s radar, but he seems like a guy who might be waiting for some dominoes to fall in the coaching world before he marries himself to the Bulldogs for too long (or for too big of a buyout).

Meanwhile, potential Plan C option Steve Addazio signed an extension with Boston College through 2020 (LINK). Another potential coach, Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman, has been hired as Houston’s head coach for five years and $6.75 million (LINK).

With Pitt head coach Paul Chryst taking the job at Wisconsin, the Panthers are now looking for a head coach. While they probably wouldn’t be able to poach an established head coach, they may be able to snag an up-and-coming coordinator or head coach. Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck just signed a contract extension through 2020, but there are still guys like Greg Schiano, Tom Bradley (former Penn State defensive coordinator, current WVU assistant head coach) and Pat Narduzzi hanging around. I could see Schiano or Bradley taking the job, but Narduzzi seems to be holding out for something better than Pitt since he rebuffed UConn last year.

Coaching Candidate: Tom Herman

Tom Herman

Tom Herman
Age: 39
Current position: Ohio State University offensive coordinator
Salary: $550,000
Head coaching experience: None
History: Herman was born in Ohio and became a wide receiver at California Lutheran University, a D-III school. He then moved on to the state of Texas, where he was a graduate assistant (Texas), a wide receivers coach (Sam Houston State), and an offensive coordinator (Texas State, Rice). He was hired as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State for the 2009-2011 seasons, climaxing with an upset of undefeated #2 Oklahoma State. That got him hired as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer from 2012 to the present, where he has mentored Heisman trophy candidates in Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett.
My thoughts: Herman has some connections in the midwest and in Texas, both of which are fertile recruiting grounds for proximity and talent, respectively. He is a spread offense guru who has learned at the hands of Meyer, whom Michigan fans should grudgingly respect. Herman does not have an ideal quarterback for his offense in Michigan’s pipeline, but he has had success with some young quarterbacks, so the situation could lend itself to a quick offensive turnaround. Herman is obviously unproven as a head coach and might face some hurdles from a disappointed fan base, but his youth could give a boost to a program recovering from a lot of turmoil.
Likelihood of coming to Michigan: This would be a huge step up for a coordinator of his age, so he would probably jump at the chance to be a Big Ten head coach. However, chances are slim that Michigan would have to settle for a young coordinator when they have the resources to pull in a veteran head coach. Interim athletic director Jim Hackett would have to get a lot of no’s before dropping down the list to Herman.

My wish list:
1. Bob Stoops
2. Dan Mullen
3. Les Miles
4. Greg Schiano
5. Tom Herman
6. Pat Narduzzi
7. Mike Shanahan