The Michigan Wolverines failed to reach the postseason for just the third time since 1974. The decline of the Wolverines under the watch of head coach Brady Hoke has been under scrutiny all season long, and Saturday’s loss at Ohio State is expected to be the final nail in the coffin that is Hoke’s job status in Ann Arbor. Hoke, however, is focused on coming back to coach Michigan in 2015.
“That’s what I know right now,” Hoke said following Michigan’s 42-28 loss to the Buckeyes when asked about his plan to return in 2015. Hoke’s fate may not be as promising as he may be planning though. Michigan is already looking for a new athletics director after Dave Brandon stepped down from his position. A new AD would be likely to prefer his or her own football coach, but the timing of this all could actually give Hoke one more season. Michigan could go about a search for a new football coach without a permanent AD replacement, and given the urgency to turn things around on the football field that could still be a realistic option. Michigan named Jim Hackett as interim athletics director, but whether or not the school would let an interim AD conduct the football coaching search remains to be seen.
In Hoke’s first season, Michigan won 11 games and won the Sugar Bowl against Virginia Tech. The spark of new energy in the program led to the Wolverines being seen as a resurrected powerhouse. This was quickly put to rest in the season opener the following season, with Alabama pounding Michigan in a season-opening game in Arlington. The decline was on.
Michigan won eight games in the 2012 season, ending with a loss in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina. That game is most memorable for the Jadeveon Clowney hit. Things continued to devolve in 2013, with Michigan winning just seven games and the year ending with a loss in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Kansas State.
Hoke has started to run out of excuses at Michigan. His best success came with a roster built through the recruiting of Rich Rodriguez. Now the Michigan program is nearly entirely built by Hoke and his staff, and the results have been far from acceptable for Michigan.
