Michigan coaching search: Dave Portnoy picks Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham as his top option

As Michigan’s coaching search drags on amid uncertainty and internal questions, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy believes the Wolverines are running out of time. He believes Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham should be the clear choice to stabilize the program.

Portnoy voiced his concerns during Thursday’s episode of Barstool Pick Em. He described Michigan’s current situation as “chaos” in the wake of Sherrone Moore’s firing with cause on Dec. 10. Moore was dismissed following the discovery of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. That ended a two-year tenure in which he went 17-8.

“There’s a lot of chaos there,” Portnoy stated. “The more you delve into the way the school is set up, there’s infighting. They’re jockeying for power.”

Portnoy specifically pointed to Michigan’s governance structure, including the role of the Board of Regents, as a major obstacle in the search process. According to him, disagreement among leadership factions has created a power struggle that makes decisive action difficult at a critical time in the coaching carousel.

“I don’t know how anybody would sign a coach at Michigan right now,” Portnoy added. “I don’t even know who’s running the show.”

With uncertainty surrounding athletic director Warde Manuel and ongoing investigations, Portnoy argued that each passing day without clarity only worsens Michigan’s situation. Particularly, that is the case in the transfer portal era.

“Every single day that goes by, I don’t see how these kids are going to stay there,” Portnoy explained.

Portnoy: ‘I could get Kenny Dillingham in 24 hours’

While Portnoy acknowledged rumors that Michigan could be waiting to see how Alabama’s postseason unfolds with Kalen DeBoer, he made his stance clear. Portnoy said if the Wolverines want a realistic, immediate solution, Dillingham is his pick.

“I’m telling you, if someone said, ‘You have the resources,’ I could get Kenny Dillingham in 24 hours,” Portnoy claimed. “In 24 hours, he’d be the coach of Michigan.”

The 35-year-old Dillingham has quickly emerged as one of the fastest-rising coaches in college football. He owns a 22-16 record in three seasons at Arizona State, including a 19-7 mark over the past two years. In 2024, he led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff appearance, where ASU fell to Texas in overtime in the quarterfinals.

Despite acknowledging other potential options,  including Army Black Knights coach Jeff Monken, Portnoy stressed that Michigan needs urgency and structure more than anything else.

“Unless it’s Kalen DeBoer. … I don’t know what they’re doing,” Portnoy said. “Every single day that goes by seems like a major, major problem.”

For Portnoy, Dillingham represents decisiveness and clarity from Michigan. That’s what the university desperately needs at the moment, as they attempt to reset following a stunning and turbulent chapter.