The Michigan Wolverines are looking for a new defensive coordinator after D.J. Durkin took the head coaching job at Maryland. Durkin helped turn the Wolverines into a top five defense this year, but head coach Jim Harbaugh only expects them to get better in 2016. Scott Shafer and Vic Fangio were both candidates, but they are out of the running. Fangio doesn't want to return to college, while Shafer is taking the DC job at Maryland.
Another name to cross off the list is Stanford Cardinal defensive coordinator and Jim Harbaugh protogee, Lance Anderson. Anderson told reporters yesterday that he is "very happy" in Palo Alto, declining an offer to join Harbaugh in Ann Arbor.. With that in mind, here are the top five coaches that could take over as Michigan's defensive coordinator next season:
5. Chuck Pagano, head coach, Indianapolis Colts
This is a wild card hire. The writing may be on the wall for Pagano in Indianapolis, especially if the 6-7 Colts can't separate themselves from the rest of the AFC South pack and make a deep run this coming postseason. Pagano served on John Harbaugh's initial coaching staff with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008-11, including a stint as defensive coordinator in 2011 -- the season before he was hired to take over the Colts. Rumors have it that Pagano could be looking for a break from being a head coach, and that working for Jim Harbaugh and the relative stability of a coordinator role under him could lure him to Ann Arbor.
4. Randy Shannon, defensive coordinator, Florida Gators
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Harbaugh might have interest in Shannon, as rumblings indicate that Shannon and Harbaugh have already touched base. It'd be an interesting fit, since Shannon has spent most of his career in Florida. He struggled as the Miami Hurricanes' head coach, but Shannon has had success as an assistant. He did a solid job with the Florida Gators' defense this season, which could be why Harbaugh has some interest.
3. Jim Leavitt, defensive coordinator, Colorado Buffaloes
Leavitt makes sense for a variety of reasons. First of all, he worked under Jim Harbaugh as the 49ers' linebackers coach from 2011-14. Secondly, Leavitt's 14 years as the head coach of South Florida (1996-2009) means that he has plenty of recruiting connections to the State of Florida -- one of THE marquee states in the nation when it comes to turning out top-level college players. Finally, his 37 years of coaching experience is something the rest of Harbaugh's coaches can benefit from and glean knowledge off of.
2. Butch Davis, former Miami Hurricanes/Cleveland Browns head coach
Davis has been out of coaching since 2010, with his last football role coming as a special adviser to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012-13. Squeezed out of the head coaching search in Miami by the hiring of Mark Richt, Davis' pedigree as a former head coach (Miami, Cleveland, North Carolina) and reputation as a legit defensive innovator makes him an intriguing possibility. He's also a fantastic hand to have from an academic standpoint, boasting a 75% graduation rate for every season he coached at UNC.
Controversy and academic violations remain a black mark on Davis' record, but he'd have a fantastic shot at reabilitating his image under Harbaugh in Ann Arbor.
1. Dave Aranda, defensive coordinator, Wisconsin Badgers
Aranda's name is one that's been linked to this search since Durkin stepped down, and he's the most likely candidate on the board to make the jump to Ann Arbor. Over the three years that he's been Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, Aranda's defenses have given up just 16.8 points per game -- the 2nd-best mark in the FBS over that span. A rising star on the coordinator circuit, Aranda has also found himself mentioned as a candidate for the USC opening. We expect Jim Harbaugh to swoop in and try to get something done before the Trojans get a chance to strengthen their pitch.
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