If Jim Harbaugh bolts for the NFL, Michigan should immediately promote Sherrone Moore but that won't come without tricky transition
Jim Harbaugh is reportedly in intense negotiations with the Los Angeles Chargers for their head coach opening, meaning Michigan could have a vacancy sooner than later.
Harbaugh is as unpredictable as the NYC subway system, so the reigning national champion head coach could end up returning to his alma mater, accepting the huge extension that’s been sitting on his desk and make this whole column moot.
But let’s assume Harbaugh’s yearly fawning for the NFL finally comes to fruition, Michigan would have an opening, but likely not for long.
I’m in full agreement with my colleague Andy Staples that it would behoove the Wolverines to promote offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach as quickly as possible — particularly in light of what’s happened at Alabama, Washington and Arizona in the last two weeks.
Moore is beloved in the Michigan locker room, and would be a natural successor to the legendary Harbaugh. The championship culture that’s been established in Ann Arbor would continue. The roster, which would still be open to the 30-day transfer portal window, is unlikely to be hemorrhaged by departures. Moore, just 37, has spurred Michigan’s turnaround by building and developing top-flight offensive lines, and he proved to be a savvy game-day head coach in 2023, too, notching Top 10 wins over Penn State and Ohio State — almost equaling James Franklin’s total (3) in 11 seasons with Nittany Lions.
So long as Sherrone Moore isn’t tied to the impending NCAA sign-stealing case, he should be a slam-dunk promotion for AD Ward Manuel.
Still, that doesn’t mean Michigan isn’t in store for a tough transition, particularly with the current landscape of the Big Ten and the fact Moore may have to make a couple pivotal staff hires.
Ohio State is going for it in 2024, with Ryan Day clearly over being the little brother to the Team Up North. Oregon, Washington and USC join the conference next fall. If Moore does get the job, Michigan’s roster will lag in comparison to its conference rivals, particularly on offense.
With an unknown commodity at QB (Alex Orji), Michigan’s best bet to remain competitive next season will be to lean on a defense that should return stars like Derrick Moore, Kenneth Grant and Will Johnson.
But Moore might have to find them a new coach.
Should Harbaugh leave for the Chargers, he reportedly plans to take Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, his son, with him to LA. Minter has also been linked to DC openings with the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, LA Rams and others. Harbaugh could also bring Wolverines strength and conditioning coordinator Ben Herbert with him.
These would be major vacancies for Sherrone Moore to fill.
Minter was part of the Baltimore Ravens to Michigan pipeline, successfully replacing Mike McDonald as DC in 2022. In two seasons as Michigan’s DC, the Wolverines fielded Top 10 units — including a defense so dominant in 2023 that it didn’t face a single 1st-and-goal until the fourth quarter of the 10th game of the season.
Co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale, a well-respected DBs coach, could earn a promotion but he’s never been a play-caller before. Could Moore poach Jim Leonhard off of Illinois’ staff?
Meanwhile, Herbert has been one of the highest-paid strength coaches in the country for good reason — Harbaugh has referred to him as Michigan’s “X-factor” since he joined the program in 2018, and numerous players like Mazi Smith, Blake Corum and Kris Jenkins have sung his praises in recent years.
The Wolverines won three straight Big Ten Championships and a national title earlier this month with teams defined by their toughness, physicality and defensive prowess. Jim Harbaugh kept telling everyone that JJ McCarthy was Superman, yet Michigan was so good everywhere else, their quarterback never had to be a hero to win a national title.
Michigan’s offensive identity won’t change if Moore nets the promotion.
He’ll continue to oversee a gnarly offensive line and a mean ground game. But that toughness was derived by a top-tier S&C program, can Moore convince Herbert to stay in Ann Arbor? And who does Moore have on his coaching rolodex if Minter does indeed leave for an NFL job?
What’s happened at Alabama post-Saban bolsters Moore’s candidacy, and it clearly would behoove Michigan to promote the fast-rising OC, but the Wolverines could still be in store for a challenging transition depending on who else leaves the program with Harbaugh.