The Michigan head coach opening has seen Brian Daboll emerge as a potential candidate, but he's not the only ex-New York Giants coach who could get a look. Daboll's former defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, is already on staff in Ann Arbor, and his promotion feels like a more likely outcome.
After Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cause on Wednesday afternoon, the rumor mill started flying with high-caliber names. But Martindale's success in taking over Jesse Minter's defense and long NFL pedigree mean he could be a true dark horse candidate in Michigan's search.
However, that doesn't change the fact that another in-house promotion would be a mistake. Moore was promoted from inside the program after Jim Harbaugh left for the Chargers, and the 62-year-old coach has no head coaching experience, meaning Moore's successor should just retain Martindale.
Michigan has no reason to promote Wink Martindale after Sherrone Moore firing
We all know how Martindale's time in New York ended. There was a rift between him and Daboll that allegedly saw him curse Daboll out for firing Drew Wilkins, Wink's right-hand man. And the worst part is, he was a good coordinator whose firing opened the door for a far worse option in Shane Bowen.
The issues between him and Dabs made it clear that both of them have work to do in uniting a locker room, and Daboll's firing only proved that. Moreover, Martindale had ugly exits in both New York and Baltimore, that only affirms that one of the highest-profile college openings can land a bigger name, even in the face of scandal.
Martindale helped lead the Wolverines to a 9-3 season, as his unit ranked 21st in the nation in total defense. He's among the best defensive coordinators in the country, so it's fair to at least kick the tires, but making another internal hire with a coach who has red flags in his history is a huge mistake.
Moore's firing has become an incredibly messy situation for the Wolverines, so the best course of action would be to make an external hire to completely sever all ties to the Harbaugh era. And if rumors are true that Alabama's Kalen DeBoer has interest, there isn't a shot Wink takes over.
Michigan football has one of the best reputations in the sport, and they'll be looking for more of a "Michigan man" to take over. It's unclear whether or not Wink will get a real look, but if he does, many fans will be outraged over the failure to hire an offensive mind who can develop young QB Bryce Underwood, and it's hard to blame them.