(The Spread) – The University of Michigan fired head coach Rich Rodriguez on Tuesday and, if you believe the reports, the man who they want to replace him just won the 2011 Orange Bowl.
Rodriguez finished with a 15-22 record in three years at Michigan. He lost a school-record nine games in his first year, went 5-7 after starting 4-0 last season and then went 7-5 after starting 5-0 this year. In his final game with the Wolverines, he coached Michigan to an embarrassing 52-14 loss to Mississippi State in this year’s Gator Bowl. It was the worst bowl loss for Michigan in school history.
Athletic Director David Brandon is now expected to pursue Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, who just coached the Cardinal to a 40-12 win over Virginia Tech in the 2011 Orange Bowl on Monday night. Harbaugh played quarterback at Michigan from 1983-1986 and has compiled a 57-27 read as a head coach thus far.
Harbaugh would be the perfect candidate to replace Rodriguez because he’s the “Michigan Man” that Brandon covets. Another candidate is reportedly Brady Hoke, who is currently the head coach of San Diego State.
Whoever takes over at Michigan, they’ll need to put an emphasis on defense and special teams – two units that were huge failures under Rodriguez.
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