Michigan’s coaching search has moved to a new gear tonight. I can confirm Todd Monken is in active consideration to replace Sherrone Moore, with decision makers evaluating his fit as the transfer portal window nears. The urgency is real. Roster movement starts soon, and Michigan wants an offensive leader who can set a tone on day one.
Why Monken, Why Now
Monken checks boxes that Michigan values. He is a proven play caller, a builder, and a communicator who commands a room. At Georgia, his offenses adapted to personnel and delivered titles. At Baltimore, he expanded a former MVP’s passing menu without losing the run game edge.
Michigan wants that blend. Physical at the line. Creative in the pass game. Multiple in formations, simple in teaching. Monken’s track record shows he can do all of it and keep it balanced.
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This timing matters. Quarterbacks and receivers are watching. So are offensive linemen who came for power football and rings. Monken’s profile signals a commitment to points and development, not just scheme buzzwords. That message can keep starters in place and bring instant help from the portal.
Monken’s calling card is flexibility. He builds the offense around the roster, not the other way around.
What His Offense Would Look Like in Ann Arbor
Monken trusts tight ends and backs in the pass game. He uses motion and bunch sets to create easy throws. He leans on play action, then hits vertical shots when safeties get nosy. He wants quarterbacks to make fast decisions and own protections.
At Georgia, that meant leaning into heavy personnel, then springing explosive plays off the same looks. At Baltimore, it meant expanding spacing concepts and option elements to suit a dynamic quarterback. For Michigan, expect a power run core with more pre snap movement and more routes that stress linebackers.
It is not flash for its own sake. It is calculated stress. That fits Big Ten football in December.
Recruiting, Retention, and the Portal Clock
The portal is about speed and clarity. Monken can offer both. He can look a quarterback in the eye and explain a plan. He can show film cutups of Stetson Bennett’s growth and Lamar Jackson’s expanded reads. He can sell wideouts on route variety and targets. He can promise linemen a downhill identity that still pays Sundays.
Two things would matter most in week one of a Monken hire:
- Keep the core on offense, then add a field stretcher and a veteran center
- Lock down strength staff and a veteran defensive coordinator to preserve the front seven edge
Staff building is part of his value. Monken has hired and developed assistants across college and the NFL. Expect him to blend SEC recruiting relationships with NFL technique teaching. That is a powerful pitch to parents and high school coaches.
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The Money and the Market
Michigan is shopping in an elite aisle. Some targets will come at a premium price with large guarantees. Monken would command a strong number, with an NFL buyout to navigate, but he sits in a different band than the highest paid head coaches. That matters as you structure staff pools, strength, and off field support.
Compared with splash names who bring a massive sticker, Monken offers top tier play calling and championship pedigree at a more efficient figure. That efficiency could fund a heavy hitting defensive staff and an aggressive recruiting department. In today’s game, the full operation wins, not just the headset.
Clock check. The portal window opens soon. Michigan wants a coach installed and a plan to keep the two deep intact before that first Monday hits.
The Fit, the Risks, the Read
On fit, this is clean. Michigan’s identity is toughness, smart football, and control of the line. Monken thrives in that world and brings a modern pass game that stresses matchups. He has recruited at the highest level and called plays on the biggest stages.
The risks are real. His recent work is in the NFL, and college roster building now moves at portal speed. His last head coaching job in college was at Southern Miss, which he rebuilt but left a while ago. He would need an elite personnel chief and a defensive coordinator with Big Ten chops.
Still, the upside is clear. Michigan can plug in a championship mind who knows how to build an offense around the players on hand. That could keep Michigan stable in December and dangerous by September. The program wants continuity with an edge. Monken offers both.
My read tonight is simple. Todd Monken is not just a name in the pile. He is a real option, and Michigan is treating him like one. If the Wolverines want proven offense with a championship ceiling, this is the move. The next 72 hours will tell us how far they are ready to go. 🏈
