The Michigan football team is still looking for a new coach following the firing of Sherron Moore on Dec. 10.
The two main names appear to be Alabama’s Karen DeBoer and Arizona’s Kenny Dillingham. Waiting for those two could put Michigan in a state of limbo, with DeBoer leading the Crimson Tide to Oklahoma State for a College Football Playoff first-round game on Friday, Dec. 19, and Dillingham leading the Sun Devils to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, to face Duke on Dec. 31 — three hours before Michigan takes on Texas in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Free Press has learned that Jedd Fisch of Washington State is also a potential candidate, although his background check through the headhunting firm TurnKeyZRG was not flawless.
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Another option, although it doesn’t appear to be Michigan’s first choice, is to retain interim coach Biff Poggi. If Michigan goes in this direction, it’ll likely be a one-year stopgap — similar to Stanford hiring Frank Reich for one season before hiring Tavetta Pritchard as a full-time staffer — until Michigan can take the top spot on the coaching carousel next season.
Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi walks down the tunnel to warm up before a game against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Ann Arbor.
“shock”: Michigan football players ‘disappointed’ in former coach Sherron Moore
Three Michigan players — all seniors weighing their NFL options — spoke at Schembechler Hall on Friday, and several spoke glowingly about Poggi.
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When asked about his hopes for the next coach, no one expressed it better than tight end Marlin Klein.
“What I want to see is Coach Porgy,” Klein said. “The reason for that is the person he is. He really just cares about the people in the building, not just the coaches, not just the players, but everybody.
“His son played here, he has ties to this place, it’s part of who he is. He’s a Michigan guy, he loves it here, everybody loves him. I do believe he’s the right guy for the job — whether I come back or not, I’d like to see him in this position because I do believe he’s the best fit for the young guys.”
Players have already praised Poggi for keeping the locker room united. He meets individually with players and talks to parents via phone and video calls to explain what’s going on internally. He also spent a lot of “time listening.”
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Senior linebacker Jimmy Roald said the team is “ralizing” around Poggi, who emphasized that “at the end of the day, it comes down to the guys here.”
“Coach Biff did a great job,” Roald said. “He’s doing everything he can to keep the guys down here and everyone has rallied around him and trusted him and he’s done a great job leading us.”
Roald didn’t ask Porgy to be the next coach, but he did say he would “believe in whatever they bring to the table.”
It’s worth mentioning that the last time Michigan had a coaching vacancy, players were behind Moore, then the offensive coordinator, after earning the CFP title. Now, another coaching search in the middle of bowl season comes as Moore was fired last week for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and arrested on felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor breaking and entering.
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Safety Zeke Berry said Friday that his goal for the next guy to take over is to be able to win a “national championship.”
Berry, Klein and Roald are weighing their options for next year — each could return to Michigan for a final season, declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, or enter the transfer portal.
Michigan tight end Marlin Klein (17) celebrates with running back Jordan Marshall (23) during the first half against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Ann Arbor.
Klein said he would “never transfer from Michigan” — that would be Ann Arbor or the NFL. Roald said he was weighing what was “best” for him. Berry said the next coach will not be a factor in his decision to return or declare for the NFL.
The Wolverines are expected to move quickly — likely before Jan. 1. Once UM hires a new coach, players will have five days to enter the transfer portal and 15 days after that to make a decision. The NCAA’s new standard transfer portal window will also open Jan. 2 and close Jan. 16 regardless of UM’s coaching search.
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Poggi, who went 6-16 in two seasons as Charlotte’s head coach after building two successful high school programs in Baltimore, is unclear if he is a legitimate contender for the Michigan job, but some players hope he is.
“He’s a legend,” Klein said. “He’s been a mentor to me since I got here my freshman year. I really think he’s the right guy for the job. Everybody loves him. It’s a great atmosphere in the building. We’re just focused on Texas right now and trying to get over it as quickly as possible. The kids have done a great job with him leading the way.”
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines news writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Biff Poggi, the next Michigan football coach? Players say yes
