Michigan coaching search: Pete Thamel reveals if Kalen DeBoer is still an option for Wolverines

Two weeks to the day that Michigan parted ways with head coach Sherrone Moore due to cause, the program has yet to hire a new football coach. The clock is certainly ticking, as the Transfer Portal officially opens on Jan. 2.

As the search continues, ESPN’s Pete Thamel joined Wednesday morning’s edition of ‘Get Up‘ to offer an update. Along with floating three potential candidates in Missouri‘s Eli Drinkwitz, Washington‘s Jedd Fisch, and former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, Thamel revealed if Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was still an option for the program.

DeBoer’s team fell behind Oklahoma 17-0 early in its College Football Playoff First Round game, but rebounded in a massive way for a 34-24 victory. With the win, Alabama earned its first CFP victory since Dec. 31, 2021 (Cincinnati). This certainly complicates Michigan‘s potential courtship of DeBoer, who is currently planning for the Tide’s Rose Bowl matchup against Indiana on Jan. 1.

“Every day that goes by, the chance increases that Michigan could take another whack at Kalen DeBoer,” Thamel said. “Again, Louis (Riddick) mentioned a risk. That comes with exponential risk. Indiana plays Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. There’s no guarantee that Kalen DeBoer would take the job. Michigan would be waiting, in theory, for a conversation with Kalen DeBoer.”

“If he wins or if he decides not to go if they have that conversation (which really wouldn’t happen until Jan. 2), the floodgates could open at Michigan with players leaving. Retention could be a big issue. Certainly, he’s the candidate that they’ve coveted. Certainly, they would desire to hire him. But, the timing still looms as a near impossibility and a giant risk for Michigan officials and Athletic Director Warde Manuel, whose own career is in the crosshairs as this search unfolds with an outside investigation of the athletic department. To wait for DeBoer would be like a high-wire act we’ve never seen.”

Kalen DeBoer seemingly shut down Michigan rumors with statement

As rumors linking DeBoer to the Michigan job grew louder and louder in the immediate aftermath of Moore’s firing, he released a statement that seemingly shut down all hopes of a move from happening. In the sport of college football, however, nothing is truly ever off the table.

“My family and I are very happy in Tuscaloosa and remain extremely grateful for the support of President (Peter) Mohler, (athletic director) Greg Byrne, the Board (of Regents) and so many others,” DeBoer’s statement read. “We have an incredible opportunity in front of us, so my sole focus is on Alabama football and our preparations to play Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff.

“I have not spoken and have no interest in speaking with anyone else about any other job. I am fully committed to this program and look forward to continuing as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.”

As the search continues to name the sixth Michigan head coach in the past 31 seasons, DeBoer seemingly has a lot on his plate to deal with. It would certainly be a bold move for Warde Manuel, who remains in hot water following Michigan‘s sanctions and the Sherrone Moore situation, to attempt to wait out the end of Alabama‘s season to put a full-court press on bringing DeBoer to Ann Arbor.