Ex‑Michigan star backs Poggi as next head coach as program weighs future after Moore

Michigan moved to chart a future without Sherrone Moore on the program’s top leadership after the head coach was fired amid an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer and subsequent arrests on multiple charges. In the wake of his dismissal, Biff Poggi, the Wolverines’ assistant head coach, has served as interim head coach and has drawn notable support from alumni and members of the program who see him as a viable full‑time successor.

Two coaches long rumored to be potential targets — Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham — do not appear to be available. DeBoer has said he is focused on Alabama’s push in the College Football Playoff, and Dillingham reportedly signed a contract extension with the Sun Devils, complicating Michigan’s search for a permanent replacement. Meanwhile Poggi, whom the school elevated to interim status, has received vocal endorsements from within the Michigan family.

Michigan alumnus Devin Gardner added to the public conversation, urging on social media that Poggi should be named the 22nd head coach rather than kept in interim status. “The best way forward for @UMichFootball is to name Biff Poggi the 22nd head coach of the University of Michigan, not interim, Head Coach,” Gardner wrote on X. The post drew attention from within the program and among Michigan fans as the team prepared for a bowl game amid scrutiny of the program’s leadership. [Image: ]

Current Michigan tight end Marlin Klein also spoke publicly about Poggi’s impact on the team, saying Poggi has helped maintain focus for the bowl game despite the external turmoil surrounding Moore’s departure. “Coach Poggi is a legend, everybody loves him,” Klein said, via Click on Detroit. “The vibe in the building has been awesome.”

Poggi’s tenure as interim head coach traces to his prior role as the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers, a background that drew scrutiny and praise in equal measure as he joined Moore’s staff at Michigan. He has publicly described the emotional roller coaster the players faced in the days after Moore’s dismissal, noting a spectrum of reactions from disbelief to anger before the team began to rally around one another. At a Citrus Bowl news conference in Winter Park, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2025, ahead of Michigan’s New Year’s Eve appearance against Texas, Poggi spoke about keeping the team cohesive during a chaotic period that tested leadership and trust within the program. [Image: ]

The search for a long‑term solution continues as Michigan weighs whether Poggi should lead the program beyond this season. While DeBoer and Dillingham remain the names most frequently discussed by fans and rivals, neither appears readily available to take over the job in the near term. The administration has not announced a formal process or timeline for identifying the next head coach, and observers say the next steps will hinge on assessing Poggi’s performance and leadership during the remainder of the season, along with the willingness of the university to promote from within.

For Poggi, the path forward is as much about rebuilding trust within the locker room as it is about securing wins on the field. He has emphasized a message of accountability and continuity for a program trying to recover from upheaval and resume its traditional stranglehold on a national stage. As Michigan prepares for postseason play, the question remains whether Poggi’s interim tenure becomes a permanent appointment, or if the Wolverines pursue a broader search that could recalibrate the program’s trajectory for years to come. [Image: ]