Michigan football players back Biff Poggi as next coach

Michigan football remains in the hunt for a new coach following the firing of Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10.

The two leading names appear to be Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham. Waiting for those two potentially leaves U-M in a bit of a holding pattern, with DeBoer leading the Crimson Tide to Oklahoma for a College Football Playoff first-round game on Friday, Dec. 19, and Dillingham taking his Sun Devils to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, against Duke on Dec. 31 – three hours before U-M faces Texas in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Washington's Jedd Fisch is also a potential candidate, though his background check through search firm TurnKeyZRG wasn't spotless, the Free Press has learned.

Another option, though it doesn't seem to be among U-M's first choices, would be keeping interim coach Biff Poggi in the fold. If Michigan went that direction, it would most likely be a one-year stop-gap – similar to Stanford's hiring of Frank Reich for a season before making Tavita Pritchard the full-time hire – until Michigan was able to take the top spot on the coaching carousel next season.

'SHOCKED': Michigan football players feel 'let down' by ex-coach Sherrone Moore

A trio of Michigan players – all seniors who are weighing their NFL options – spoke Friday at Schembechler Hall, with several speaking glowingly of Poggi.

None did so more than tight end Marlin Klein when asked about his hopes for the next coach.

"What I want to see is coach Poggi," Klein said. "The reason for that is the person he is. He truly just cares about people in the building, not just the coaches, not just the players but really everybody.

"His son played here, he has a relationship to this place, it's a part of him. He's a Michigan man, he loves it here and everybody loves him. I do believe he's the right person for this job – me coming back or not, I want to see him in that position because I do believe he's the best fit for the younger guys."

Players are already giving Poggi credit for keeping the locker room together. He has met with players individually and talked with parents, via phone and video calls, to explain what's going on internally. He has also spent a lot of "time listening."

Senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder said the team is "rallying around" Poggi, who has emphasized "at the end of the day, it's about the players here."

"Coach Biff has done a great job," Rolder said. "He's doing everything in his power to hold the guys down here, everyone's just rallying around him, trusting him and he's been doing a great job of leading us."

Rolder didn't call for Poggi to be the next coach, but he did say he'll "trust whatever they bring in."

For what it's worth, the last time U-M had a coaching opening, players fell in behind Moore, then the offensive coordinator, following a CFP title. Now, with Moore fired last week for an inappropriate relationship with a staffer and arrested for felony home invasion, misdemeanor stalking and misdemeanor breaking and entering, it's another coaching search in the middle of bowl season.

Safety Zeke Berry said Friday his goal for whomever takes over next is someone that can win "a national championship."

Berry, Klein and Rolder are weighing their options about next year – each could return to U-M for a final season, declare for the 2026 NFL Draft or enter the transfer portal.

Klein said he would "never transfer" from U-M – it will be Ann Arbor or the NFL. Rolder said he's weighing what's "best for" him. Berry said the next coach will not play a factor in his decision to return or declare for the NFL.

There's an expectation that the Wolverines will act quickly – likely before Jan. 1. Once U-M hires a new coach, players will have five days to enter the transfer portal, with 15 days after that to make a decision. The NCAA's new standard transfer portal window also opens Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16, regardless of U-M's coaching search.

It's unclear if Poggi – who went 6-16 in parts of two seasons as Charlotte coach after building two successful high school programs in Baltimore – is a legitimate contender for the U-M job, but some of the players hope he is.

“He’s a legend,” Klein said. “He’s been a mentor of mine since I got here my freshman year. I do think he’s the man for the job. Everybody loves him. The vibe in the building, it’s been awesome. We’re really just focused on Texas now and trying to get over it as soon as possible. With him in charge, the boys are doing good.”

Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Biff Poggi, next Michigan football coach? Players say yes