The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Michigan: a football coaching history

Blue Blood#5 of 138–

See Michigan’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches

Program GOAT

Lloyd Carr

0 Dynasty · 11 Blue-Blood seasons

Built by

Fritz Crisler

National Program II → Power Program I (+28.4)

The fall

Rich Rodriguez

Blue Blood → Power Program II (−12.0)

Right now

Kyle Whittingham

in year 1 — too new to place in Michigan's history

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

Every coach

2026–now

Kyle Whittinghamshort tenure

0–0

2025–2025

Biff Poggishort tenure

0–1

2024–2025

Sherrone Mooreshort tenure

17–8

2015–2023

Jim Harbaughbuilder🏆 COY

Jim Harbaugh raised Michigan from Power Program II to Blue Blood.

+15.9

89–25

2011–2014

Brady Hokecaretaker

Brady Hoke held Michigan at Power Program II for 4 seasons.

Power Program II

31–20

2008–2010

Rich Rodriguezinheritor

Rich Rodriguez inherited a Blue Blood Michigan and won with it.

−12.0

15–22

1995–2007

Lloyd Carrsustainer

Lloyd Carr kept Michigan a national power for 11 seasons.

Blue Blood

122–40

1990–1994

Gary Moellerinheritor

Gary Moeller inherited a Power Program I Michigan and won with it.

Power Program I

44–13

1969–1989

Bo Schembechlerbuilder

Bo Schembechler raised Michigan from Power Program II to Power Program I.

+20.4

194–48

1959–1968

Bump Elliottinheritor

Bump Elliott inherited a Power Program I Michigan and won with it.

−9.5

51–42

1948–1958

Bennie Oosterbaansustainer

Bennie Oosterbaan kept Michigan a national power for 6 seasons.

−8.6

63–33

1938–1947

Fritz Crislertransformer

Fritz Crisler took Michigan from National Program II to Power Program I.

+28.4

71–16

1936–1937

Harry Kipkeshort tenure

5–11