The coaching carousel is spinning, and the question on everyone's mind is: Could Kenny Dillingham be the next head coach for the Michigan Wolverines? The Arizona State football coach, once a hot commodity in the coaching market, had previously quelled rumors of his departure. But now, with the Michigan job unexpectedly open, the situation has dramatically shifted.
Rumors began swirling after Sherrone Moore was surprisingly fired. Could Dillingham be the perfect fit to restore the Wolverines to their former glory as a college football powerhouse?
As of Friday at 6:30 p.m. MST, the odds favored Dillingham to take the reins at Michigan, with a betting line of -200, according to Bet Online. His main competitors include Alabama's Kalen DeBoer (+250) and Washington's Jedd Fisch (+300). Fisch has a history with Michigan, having served as an assistant and coordinator in the past.
"Where (Michigan is) right now is just an unfortunate, weird situation, and if you wanna flip the script on it, you need new juice. You need new energy. Kenny Dillingham is that to me to a T," suggested On3 analyst J.D. PicKell. He highlighted Dillingham's youth, enthusiasm, and passion as qualities that could invigorate the team. "Wasn’t that kind of what Jim Harbaugh brought to the table?"
Josh Pate, an on-air personality on ESPN's "Get Up," echoed this sentiment, stating that Dillingham is ideally suited to meet Michigan's needs. He pointed out Dillingham's success with Arizona State and his ability to develop quarterbacks, an area where Michigan has struggled recently.
Dillingham is currently under a five-year contract that automatically extends by a year after each season Arizona State qualifies for a bowl game.
But here's where it gets controversial... Dillingham has repeatedly dismissed rumors of leaving Arizona State.
On the Travis Take Two Podcast, he clarified that he hadn't spoken to anyone about other job opportunities during the season. He emphasized his commitment to his team and his belief in loyalty. He also responded to reports linking him to openings at LSU and Penn State, stating unequivocally that he wasn't leaving. He expressed his commitment to the players, staff, fanbase, and local businesses, emphasizing that he wouldn't want to let them down.
Furthermore, Dillingham has praised players who have shown loyalty, such as Jeff Sims and Jake Fette. He even shared a quote about "destination addiction" around the time Lane Kiffin left for LSU.
And this is the part most people miss... Taking the Michigan job would represent a significant shift in direction for Dillingham, given his previous statements and actions.
What do you think? Do you believe Dillingham would be a good fit for Michigan? Or do you think his past statements make it unlikely he'd leave Arizona State? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
