Here are four possible candidates for Michigan football’s running backs coach position, which needs to be filled by Mike Hart.
Mike Hart’s official departure from Michigan football as the running backs coach for the 2024 campaign was announced earlier this week.
The hit cannot be minimised. Mike Hart is an excellent coach for running backs. In addition, he served as the run-game coordinator and was a key component of Michigan football’s successful rushing operation during the previous three seasons, which included three consecutive Big Ten titles, three victories over Ohio State, and a national championship.
Hart may have been on personal leave, but the Wolverines have suffered a blow. Although some may not have thought well of Mike Hart during the recruiting process, he recently signed a running back who is ranked in the top 100 for the 2024 class, which was his best signing to date.
Hart was outstanding as an on-field coach as well. However, Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider claims that Sherrone Moore was not surprised by this. Although there appear to be a few strong contenders, we are unsure of their identities. Only that, according to Webb’s story, a hire is “expected” before spring ball.
Having stated that, the following four applicants seem fitting for the position of running backs coach at Michigan football.
Denard Robinson
This name was discussed on Friday. It is logical. For the previous two seasons, Robinson has been a member of the Michigan football recruiting staff. Robinson is an NFL running back. He hasn’t had any experience coaching on the pitch, though. It would be risky because before to joining the Wolverines, he worked as an offensive analyst with the Jaguars.
However, you are aware that he would excel in the recruiting process. That being said, it would be entertaining to have “Shoelace” on the Michigan football coaching staff even though he might not be prepared for this position. Just so you know, I believe he would perform admirably as well.
DeMarco Murray
Though it may sound absurd, there is some logic to this. Sherrone Moore, the former running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and DeMarco Murray were colleagues at Oklahoma, hence the former running back and the Michigan Wolverines are related.
When Murray was hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma running backs in 2020, he recruited Donovan Edwards admirably, as I recall. Because of Murray, the Sooners were among the other teams that were considered.
Though it’s difficult to imagine him leaving his own mater to become Michigan’s running backs coach. Perhaps if he was named co-offensive coordinator or something like. Simply put, I don’t think Hart’s previous position as run-game coordinator would suffice. I find it difficult to see this happening, even though Moore would probably offer a sizable raise and U-M did defeat the Sooners for general manager Sean Magee.
But you can’t really blame us for having dreams? Many things have gone well for Murray’s backs, and he would be
Devon Spalding
This offseason, Michigan football already took a coach from Wisconsin; why not go back to the source?
Moore was able to poach Greg Scruggs away from the Badgers this offseason to be the defensive line coach and Devon Spalding, the running backs coach for Wisconsin makes a ton of sense for Michigan football to target.
Spalding is a Michigan native and played running back for Central Michigan. He coached at Youngstown State and worked at Cincinnati before eventually ending up at Wisconsin on the coaching staff of Luke Fickell.
Spalding has a solid history of running back development, plus I love coaches on the Michigan football staff with ties to the state of Ohio. Spalding could be an asset in recruiting the Buckeye state for the Wolverines, as well as the state of Michigan. He also did well coaching Braelon Allen last season for Wisconsin, so you know he can handle the job. That’s not a question. It might not be the splashiest hire, but it’s one that makes perfect sense.
Tyrone Wheatley
A former Michigan football legend who was once on Jim Harbaugh’s staff as running backs coach could be a candiate to return and that’s Tyrone Wheatley, the former Wolverines legend who won Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year back in 1992.
Wheatley is the head coach at Wayne State right now. He’s been a head coach for two different college programs. Wayne State is a D-2 program and Wheatley has spent one season there after being the Denver Broncos running backs coach.
Talking about experience, it’s hard to find someone with more than Wheatley. He’s been a running backs coach in college for six seasons, while holding the same role in the NFL for five. The former Michigan football legend has talked about how coaching the Wolverines would be a dream come true and I feel like he would take the chance, even though he’s a head coach right now.
Chip Kelly quit a Power-4 head coaching job to call plays for Ryan Day, so I don’t think Wheatley leaving a D-2 head coaching job to be Michigan football running backs coach is crazy. I don’t know if either side would be interested in a reunion — but the Wolverines could do much worse.
