Failure to compete for Big Ten title ends Hoke’s Michigan career
By Joel Greer
The loss to arch-rival Ohio State was the final blow to head coach Brady Hoke’s career at Michigan.
The former Michigan assistant and San Diego State head coach could never develop players to the point of competing for the big Ten title, and was relieved of his duties earlier this afternoon (Dec. 2) by interim athletic director Jim Hackett, several sources confirm.
Hoke’s teams were 16-16 in the Big Ten over four seasons, certainly not a record Hoke envisioned.
Won with Carr’s and RichRod’s players
His first team in 2011 was loaded with upperclass talent left over from Lloyd Carr’s 2007 team and others (like Denard Robinson) from the Rich Rodriguez (2008-1o ) regime. That team defeated Notre Dame and Ohio State, while finishing with an 11-2 record and a BCS bowl victory.
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From there Hoke’s record plummeted to 8-5, 7-6 and his year 5-7. His 3-5 Big Ten records the last two seasons were hardly competitive. And considering the excellent recruiting classes from 2012 and 2013, you’d at least expect wins over Maryland and Rutgers this fall and easier wins over Akron and Connecticut last season.
As to who might take over for Hoke, we start with the usual cast of characters, some who go back to 2008 when Rich Rodriguez was hired. Les Miles was thought to take the job, but a communication gaffe by then AD Martin had ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit leaking the story on Game Day within an hour of LSU playing the SEC championship game. The awkwardness of the situation helped force Miles to remain in Baton Rouge.
Miles still a candidate
By his following tweet, you might wonder if Miles is interested in coming home to Ann Arbor—he played for Bo Schembechler in 1974-75 and coached the OL from 1987 to 1994—, or he is just cheering on his old team. At 61, Michigan could be the final stop for the “Mad Hatter.”
Geaux Blue!!.... Beat em in the Horseshoe!!!
— Les Miles (@CoachLesMiles) November 29, 2014
Multiple sources have confirmed meeting between #Michigan AD Jim Hackett & Coach Brady Hoke WILL occur Tues sometime before 3pm team meeting
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) December 1, 2014
(The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the school has not made any announcement about the meeting).
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