Michigan coaching search: Pete Thamel reveals latest on Kalen DeBoer, backup candidates

Second-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer remains Michigan‘s preferred No. 1 target to replace Sherrone Moore as the Wolverines’ head football coach, according to ESPN insider Pete Thamel. Thamel revealed where Michigan currently stands since firing Moore on Dec. 10 during an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of Friday night’s College Football Playoff opener between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama at 8 pm ET in Norman.

“Sources tell me that Michigan officials remain convicted that they want to attempt to hire Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. The result of tonight’s game is going to factor heavily into that pursuit, as an Alabama loss would make the logistics of attempting to hire DeBoer much more tenable,” Thamel said Friday night on ESPN. “Look, Kalen DeBoer said publicly this week that he’ll be the coach of Alabama next year. I’ve been told my sources that Alabama officials behind the scenes have worked aggressively to try to sign Kalen DeBoer to a new deal.”

DeBoer has repeatedly maintained he and his family are “happy” in Tuscaloosa despite the outside perception the former Washington coach could be swayed to leave, especially if Alabama (10-3) loses to Oklahoma (10-2) on Friday night to give the Crimson Tide back-to-back four-loss seasons. Earlier this week, when asked directly if he intended to be Alabama’s head coach in 2026, DeBoer gave a blunt “Yes.”

Pete Thamel: Michigan officials ‘had a handful of exploratory conversations with different candidates this week’

But Michigan isn’t exactly going all-in on DeBoer either, and has reportedly engaged in “exploratory conversations” with various other coaching candidates including Arizona State‘s Kenny Dillingham, Missouri‘s Eli Drinkwitz and second-year Washington coach Jedd Fisch, according to Thamel.

“Michigan officials aren’t solely focused on DeBoer. I’ve been told by sources that they’ve had a handful of exploratory conversations with different candidates this week,” Thamel continued. “The hiring pool, if it’s not DeBoer, sources have told me, would involve Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State, Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri and Washington’s Jedd Fisch. The timing could be tricky. Two of those coaches – Dillingham and Drinkwitz – have post Christmas bowls.”

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel fired second-year head coach Sherrone Moore for cause after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer were substantiated early last week. Moore was subsequently arrested later on Dec. 10 and charged two days later with third-degree home invasion, stalking and breaking during a Dec. 12 arraignment hearing. Washtensaw County prosecuctors allege Moore entered the home of the female staffer he reportedly had a relationship with through an unlocked door and threatened to harm himself during a confrontation with the young woman, reportedly  telling her “my blood is on your hands” while holding butter knives and kitchen scissors.