The agenda for the Michigan Wolverines completely changed as they are now in the hunt for a new head coach after firing Sherrone Moore. While many see Crimson Tide’s Kalen DeBoer as a good replacement, Dave Portnoy, the founder and owner of Barstool Sports, has a completely different name in mind.

“I don’t want to say I don’t want Deboer in case he gets the job but I don’t want Deboer,” he wrote on X. “Let’s just stop fu–ing around and give it to Gruden and go win a Natty.”

Portnoy, whose net worth today is $250 million, is not so confident about DeBoer. He would rather have the Wolverines hire former Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach Jon Gruden. And a small population of fans will agree with him.

While it is true DeBoer has emerged as the favorite for the role, Washington’s Jedd Fisch is the second name on the list with a 20 percent chance of grabbing the job. Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham has a 12 percent chance, and Gruden is at 7 percent.

The program is looking for a third coach in four years.

If the Wolverines consider Gruden just like Portnoy suggested, the coach could make a comeback since being let go by the Raiders in 2021. He also won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers. And Moore’s firing could make a return a possibility for him in the college coaching space.

Further, as Portnoy voiced his pick for Moore’s replacement, he also shared a blast from the past. An old 1984 Gruden media guide bio stating, “After graduation, he would like to become the head coach at the University of Michigan.”

All that said, Portnoy’s favorite pick for Sherrone Moore’s replacement has a lot of controversy surrounding him. Gruden stepped down as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach in October 2021 after certain controversial emails he’d written over a decade ago resurfaced. He did issue an apology, but the Raiders’ roster didn’t accept it.

Regardless, Michigan fired Moore with cause on Wednesday, December 10, after an internal probe found he had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer. And right after the firing, Portnoy dropped his list of candidates who could fill in his shoes. “This is my short list. Gruden, Saban, Lanning, Jeff Monkin, Clark Lea, Kenny Dillingham, Deion,” he wrote.

At the same time, Kalshi, a prediction market, came up with its list of Moore’s replacements. Do the two lists have anyone in common? Yes, only Kenny Dillingham. According to the platform, Washington Huskies’ Jedd Fisch emerges as the top favorite with a 25% chance to replace Moore.

Meanwhile, why is DeBoer’s name making the rounds in Ann Arbor?

Kalen DeBoer is in the mix to fill Sherrone Moore’s shoes

ESPN Baton Rouge’s Matt Moscona kept the college football fans buzzing after he reported about Moore’s firing and revealed that the Wolverines will be targeting Alabama Crimson Tide’s Kalen DeBoer to coach them. “I got a call Saturday that Sherrone Moore was going to be fired for cause due to an inappropriate relationship,” wrote the analyst. “The person also mentioned Michigan would target Kalen DeBoer as Moore’s replacement.”

Before taking the Alabama job, DeBoer watched his Washington Huskies lose to Michigan in the championship game in January 2024. Then, his Crimson Tide also fell to the Wolverines in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl. 

As two of the sport’s bigger revenue generators, Michigan and Alabama dominate off the field. But DeBoer’s Midwestern roots could give him a recruiting jump-start. Who else is in the race to pick up the crown that Moore just dropped?

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LSU Tigers’ recently dismissed Brian Kelly is on Michigan’s radar. Thanks to the Bryce Underwood connection. The quarterback initially had committed to LSU before Moore stole him. Duke Blue Devils’ Manny Diaz, with an ACC title and a 38-24 record across Duke and Miami, also emerges as a compelling candidate.

With Sherrone Moore out, Michigan is on high alert during the coaching search. They will look to choose the best available coach, and considering how Portnoy has thrown in his opinion, it will be interesting to see what happens next.