A few updates on the Michigan coaching search from those in the know

quote:

---

Reports have surfaced that Duke's David Cutcliffe has been offered the Michigan head coaching job and turned the Wolverines down. Is there any truth? Plus, is Jim Harbaugh still in play? We address that and more in this morning's coaching search update.

First things first - we said in last night's update not to panic with every name you hear. Cutcliffe is a perfect example. He was NOT offered the Michigan job, but was one of several candidates reached out to in order to vet interest. We told you this would be the case, and there are some (like Gil Brandt, who reported the Cutcliffe "offer" on twitter) who will confuse interest with an offer, etc.

It did not happen.

In fact, San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh remains the focus, and we remain 50-50 on his return to Ann Arbor. As we wrote yesterday, interim athletic director Jim Hackett is doing everything right (and everything possible) to land the big fish. There are some obstacles that need to be overcome, but they aren't insurmountable, and they are working on the intricate details in such a way that it would be hard to say no.

Talk of deadlines is patently false (there had been reports/rumors that he had until this Friday to decide). Money is not an issue, and Harbaugh is far and away U-M's first choice. There are others still on the list, including Les Miles (some close to him believe it will be either Harbaugh or Miles in the end, now - guess they might consider breaking that glass in case of emergency after all).

Michigan is collecting PSD's (seat donations) from ticket holders at the end of January. Cutcliffe is a good coach, but Hackett, etc. understand he wouldn't even move the needle. This is an investment, and they've got to invest wisely.

Again, they are doing everything right here, despite what you are hearing in the national media. We will share the details with you after the fact whether Harbaugh comes or goes.

If it's Miles, expect some big names to come with him - guys who might be in line to be a successor. He isn't going to coach forever, and U-M doesn't want to go through something similar in another five years (and no, we don't know those names yet. That's premature, since Harbaugh remains No. 1 on the board).

---