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Michigan Football: Top 5 Coaching Candidates to Replace Brady Hoke

Michigan Football: Top 5 Coaching Candidates to Replace Brady Hoke

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Brady Hoke's tenure as Michigan head coach is likely coming to an end after this season. U of M needs to make an impact hire that can turn this program around quickly. Here are the top five best candidates for the job.

5. Pat Narduzzi

Pat Narduzzi MSU
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

5. Pat Narduzzi

Pat Narduzzi MSU
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Pat Narduzzi is the currently in his eighth season as Michigan State defensive coordinator. He has helped to turn the Spartans' defense into a perennial powerhouse that has finished in the top 10 in the country in total defense each of the last three years. Last season he won the Broyles Award, given to the best assistant coach in college football. This hire would have the added bonus of taking away a rival's top assistant.

4. Dan Mullen

Dan Mullen Mississippi State
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4. Dan Mullen

Dan Mullen Mississippi State
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Dan Mullen is a very intriguing candidate. He took a Mississippi State program that only had one winning season in the eight years before he got there and led them to four winning seasons in his first five full seasons there. This year he has the Bulldogs off to a 5-0 start and they are a legitimate National Title contender. Mullen has worked under Urban Meyer in the past and helped develop the likes of Alex Smith and Tim Tebow.

3. John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh Ravens
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3. John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh Ravens
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Reports have surfaced that John Harbaugh is not interested in the Michigan head coaching job, but I'm not buying it. Harbaugh graduated from high school in Ann Arbor while his father Jack was an assistant under legendary coach Bo Schembechler. Harbaugh has a very impressive coaching resume in the NFL. He is currently in his 7th season as head coach with the Baltimore Ravens, has never had a losing record and led Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory.

2. Les Miles

Les Miles LSU
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2. Les Miles

Les Miles LSU
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Les Miles is a Michigan man, and his name has come up as a leading candidate during Michigan's last two coaching searches. Miles played at Michigan from 1974-75, was a graduate assistant from 1980-81 and was an assistant coach for the Wolverines from 1987-94. At 60 years old this may be the last chance Miles gets to coach at his Alma mater and a chance he would be unlikely to pass up for a third time. He has never had a losing record at LSU.

1. Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh 49ers
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1. Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh 49ers
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Jim Harbaugh remains the leading and best candidate for the Michigan head coaching job. The current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers played quarterback at Michigan from 1983-86 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler. Harbaugh has a career 58-27 record as a college head coach for both San Diego and Stanford. In the NFL he quickly turned around the 49ers franchise, leading them to three straight NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl berth.

David Cuff is a University of Michigan Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DaveCuff, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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