Brady Hoke grew up in Ohio, graduated from Ball State, and started his coaching career as an assistant at Yorktown High in Indiana. He is a football man, through and through.
In 1995, Hoke began an eight-year stint assisting Michigan, a run that included the Wolverines’ first national title since 1948. The coaches and players loved the guy. They kept in touch, while Hoke became a head coach, turning around Ball State and San Diego State.
After coach Rich Rodriguez finished his third season, with big losses to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Mississippi State, former athletic director Dave Brandon fired him. Michigan fans wanted Jim Harbaugh or Les Miles, but Brandon hired Hoke. After going outside the Michigan football family for only the fourth time in more than a century, when Michigan hired Rodriguez, Michigan had officially declared itself: Only a Michigan Man would coach Michigan.
In a crucial introduction, the largely unknown Hoke, clearly well-versed in Michigan lore and well-coached by the PR-savvy Brandon, hit all the right notes to win over just about everyone. When asked if he would need to rebuild, he left his script to say, “This is Michigan, fer Godsakes.” It resonated so well, Brandon plastered the phrase on thousands of t-shirts.
Hoke enjoyed the kind of universal support Rodriguez never could generate. That included an open checkbook to hire the best assistants. Hoke’s coordinators alone got four- and five-times what Rodriguez’s did.
In Hoke’s first season, the Wolverines went 11-2, and the man could do no wrong. After that season, I wrote, “When Hoke refers to injuries as ‘boo-boos’ and Ohio State as ‘Ohio,’ fans decided he was a motivational genius, who understood exactly what the duel was all about.
“When fans saw Hoke working the sidelines without a headset, they decided he was not an out-of-touch, glorified cheerleader, but a master delegator and teacher, trusting the play calling to his assistants while he focused on coaching his players.
“When you’re winning, it’s cool. But when the losses start piling up, your idiosyncrasies seem a little less charming.”
Well, three years later, that’s exactly what happened. After the Wolverines went 8-5 in Hoke’s second season, and 7-6 in his third, some fans started dusting off their pitchforks and torches. This season, the Wolverines couldn’t get out of their own way, stumbling to a 5-7 record, and just about every Michigan fan thought it was time for Hoke to go.
Hoke’s teams didn’t get better during each of his four seasons, and most of his players didn’t get better during their careers. That’s coaching.
On Tuesday, interim athletic director Jim Hackett told Hoke it was over. It marked the end of a four-year run that started with great promise, and ended in great disappointment.
When Hoke told his players, a lot of tough guys shed tears. On Twitter, Hoke’s players filled pages with well wishes for their former coach. “Never will I appreciate someone more than Coach Hoke,” Joe Kerridge wrote. “Taught me how to be a man.”
It’s hard to feel too sorry for a guy walking away with 17 million dollars, almost a million per Big Ten win. But it’s also hard to watch the dream of a decent man turn into a nightmare.
A few minutes later, Hackett met with the press to give them the news. He pointed out Hoke didn’t cut corners, he graduated his players who stayed, and he cared about all of them. But Hackett was refreshingly free of corporate jargon when he explained why he’d made his decision: “I believe that Brady had enough time to produce results and they’re just not there.”
Hackett’s next job will be his biggest: hire a coach who can bring Big Blue back, and keep it from going into the red.
The name everyone has in mind, once again, is Jim Harbaugh. When Jim was in junior high, his dad Jack assisted Bo Schembechler, and Jim served as the team’s ball boy. He became Michigan’s starting quarterback, the Big Ten’s MVP, and a 14-year NFL veteran before becoming a great coach. Most Michigan fans now see him as the program’s savior.
He could be, but he’s not the only person who could coach the Wolverines. Seven years ago, it seemed like every Michigan fan wanted Louisiana State head coach Les Miles. If Hackett asked, Miles would come back tomorrow.
Beyond that, Michigan could hire almost anyone – and Hackett doesn’t seem to consider being a “Michigan Man” a prerequisite to getting the job.
It’s worth remembering that, back in 1968, Michigan athletic director Don Canham first asked Joe Paterno to become Michigan’s head coach. Then he settled on some unknown from Miami of Ohio, named Glenn Schembechler. Seemed to work out pretty well.
But it’s a good bet Hackett will go for a big name – and he probably should. After all, he’s betting the entire athletic department on his first hire.
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Great re cap of a sad state of affairs Thanks
John, the “This is Michigan fergodsakes” statement was in response to the question whether the Michigan HC position was an elite job, not about rebuilding. Minor nit! Thanks for your always interesting stories.
-Glen Kruse
Northville, MI
UM ’78
John, nice job! Living down in New Orleans there is a certain hope, down here, on the part of LSU fans, that we come knocking on LSU’s door again. I think we need to look elsewhere.
I agree, finally someone speaks up who does not have on Les Miles rose tinted glasses.
Another nice read. Well I gotta say it here as I do every chance I get, the time for Les Miles has passed. He should have been the guy 7 years ago the ball was dropped, again when Hoke was hired the ball was dropped. But now NO WAY the guy imo is just to old for what we need now. This program needs a total rebuild, by the time he’s done he will be 66 if all goes right, then we’ll need another coach again. Even if I’m wrong he will at best get UM back to the Carr days of 9-3 10-2 which means continuing to lose every big game. If not Harbaugh look to Stoops, Mullen or somebody else. UGH
Regarding signing Harbaugh, Michigan needs to appeal to Harbaugh’s large ego.
Hackett needs to point out that Michigan names building after great coaches.
The NFL names things after large sponsors and dead owners and just recycles coaches.
as far as hiring Harbaugh be careful what you wish for or it may come true
John,
Spot on as usual! Your most sobering point: Hackett’s next hire will be a bet of “the Program”! If we don’t get it right this time and return to prominence, no young recruit in America will have any knowledge of our past glory!! J
Too bad any coach recruit needs the blessing of the Carr. I just ran across the rumor why Carr will never let Les back into A2; expo a a lot IF TRUE
Brady was Carr’s boy, I think his credibility may be a tad shot…
We can only hope
The statement “But it’s a good bet Hackett will go for a big name – and he probably should” should be followed by “This is Michigan, fer Godsakes.”
If Rich had received all of the support and backing that Hoke got at Michigan, including four full years, like Bo always maintained a coach needed, we’d be viying for a college football playoff spot right now and not praying for Jimmy to return. I have talked to so many people who “CLAIM” to have read 3 and out but failed to interpret the story or message that my only conclusion is that these folks are lying or ignorant. To those that dispute my take on these last seven years one need look no further than your own words “Hoke enjoyed the kind of universal support Rodriguez never could generate. That included an open checkbook to hire the best assistants. Hoke’s coordinators alone got four- and five-times what Rodriguez’s did.” Oh, what could have been. Lessons learned, no, not really.
John, you’ve handled this with a deft touch, which I appreciate. I expect they’ll look at Greg Schiano again, and possibly Lane Kiffen. I have no doubt that there are other good people out there (such as at Mississippi State), but with the excellent quick hires that have been made this week at Nebraska and Florida, I worry the perception of issues at Michigan (such as lck of depth at QB) outweigh its appeal for many. We all think it’s the best job in the country, but we are Michigan People.
Is it crazy to think we are looking at the wrong Harbaugh?
TLDR; Miles is Awesome. LSU Fans mostly delusional.
I hate to admit it but the majority of LSU fans are uniquely spoiled and unappreciative of Miles. LSU had losing records in 8 of 11 seasons prior to Nick Saban’s arrival in 2000. Saban was truly a god-like savior to most of the fan base after winning the NC and going 48-16 in 5 years. Can you imagine being the guy who follows this coach? Saban leaves, ends up at Bama 3 years later, and Miles has been in his shadow the whole time despite having won more games than any program in the SEC since his arrival (103-28) and going (39-22) against Top 25 teams while achieving the second highest graduation rate in the SEC (trailing only Vanderbilt, SEC’s only private school).
My dad summed it up very well by saying “Miles biggest issues are also his greatest strengths – his determination to stick with his plan and his loyalty to those he hires results in consistency and stability, the hallmarks of a successful program.”
What I love most about Miles is that he has made it fun to be a fan. The quotes, the excitement, the humanity, the true leadership.
Michigan would be lucky to get Miles while most LSU fans will regret their lack of appreciation for his achievements.
One of LSU’s most well respected columnist summed it up very nicely here: http://theadvocate.com/sports/11002207-123/time-is-right-for-les
There may not be any around, but Michigan needs to find a Woody or Bo trained coach. Bo was fired and rehired by Woody so many times that he lost count. If he had tried to quit on his own, Woody would have sat on him until he changed his mind. Coaches today are at the mercy of the athletic departments big greed machine and have lost track of why they are there.The entitlement seekers of today are more interested in outdoing their teammates and opponents in celebratory antics than they are in winning. It is time for coaches to let their players know that you don’t celebrate until you have won and you hate it when you lose. The players quit on the coach and the coach finds other employment. Maybe it’s time to terminate the quitters. It is time to find committed players to replace the over-coddled under-achieving players with players who want to win and receive a first class education. Maybe Michigan will think twice before giving out Tommy Harmon’s number again. Too much pressure for a today’s player.
bomberjohn5
First of all most athletes don’t go to college for the education.They go to play whatever their sport is and to possibly advance to the next level in their sport.They spend to much time all year long preparing for game day,thus they take “give me classes”and if they graduate it’s with “give me majors.”
Coaches jobs are simply to win and win the right games against the right opponents.Many things are a part of that but if they don’t get it done they get fired and somebody new is hired.Same thing happens in most other jobs.
Jim and Les aren’t coming to Ann Arbor.Get use to it and move on.
I’ve seen all the names being floated around. One name I didnt see but I think is worthy of consideration, is Josh McDaniels. I would love to hear from others why this would or wouldn’t work.
Almost 25 years ago to the day, I sat in the back of a makeshift meeting room in Crisler Arena, as a student manager for the Michigan football team. As the building which would eventually have his name was being constructed, Bo Schembechler told the players he led that he had one more game left as their head coach. For someone never at a loss for words, Bo paused and had nothing to say in a moment where tears started down his face. Matt Elliott probably had the best description of that sequence the next day in the papers. At the press conference, Bo, getting choked up, admitted that the toughest thing he ever had to do was give up his football team.
Brady Hoke enjoyed nowhere near the success Bo did as head coach. He could not win at a level that the expectation for the position demanded. Change was needed. However, I am sure as he addressed his team for the last time as their head coach on Tuesday, he and his players felt similar emotions as that meeting in Crisler Arena in December 1989. Probably the toughest thing Brady Hoke had to do this week was give up his football team and come to the realization he would never walk the western sideline of the Big House as a coach again.
The three opportunities I had to meet and talk with Brady, he was as decent and genuine of a person as people describe–a good man, as even Mark Dantonio will admit. Although he could not win at the level needed and expected, I hope he does remain a favored son of the University of Michigan for his service and dedication to the institution and the kids he coached both as an assistant and head coach in Ann Arbor.
Go Blue!
John,
As always, I continue to be so proud of you and the fair way in which you handle your written comments and positions. In this blog, you dealt with this situation with proper understanding and feeling. We all wish Brady Hoke a happy and successful future. The most anyone can ask of you is “to do your best”. If you have done your best, then you can be proud of yourself. Brady does not need to hang his head, as I believe that he tried his best to achieve his personal goal. He was, is and should always be proud of being a lover of The University of Michigan and its football program.
From:
Your 6th grade elementary school teacher
John – well stated sir. Always enjoy your prose. Would you share who you think will get the job and if that is not the same, who you’d like to see as the new Michigan football coach?
Thanks – from an Ann Arbot native and UM alum from the Bo years.
I do NOT want to see Les Miles at Michigan, and doubt that you can pry either Harbaugh from the pros. Why not go after the hottest coordinator in football — The Ohio State University’s Offensive Coordinator , Mr. Hermann?
Would love to hear john bacon’s take on obnoxious comments by hunter Lochmann. Shameful dismissal of the student athlete and this is the guy who did the coke and ticket thing. What a hack.
That makes to much sense for the faithful to accept it.Besides he accepted an offer elsewhere.
It speaks to the quality of the man that immediately upon being released by UM, Hoke’s name was prominent in the discussion for HC at both Col. St. and Ore. St. By contrast, Bo Pelini, and his antics, it appears will be accepting the D3 HC job a Youngstown St.
Hackett appears as a breath of fresh air as AD, and you are right this is the biggest hire he will ever make. That seems both bane and boon. Bane because the cliff is soooo steeeeep if he makes a misstep. Boon because he only has a couple of choices that even make sense for the circumstances. He may listen a lot, do his research, collect many names, but from the get go, there is probably only one way to salve the wounds left by two failed hires. Hire the name that does not requre explanations or rationalizations. And that makes this the easiest and yet hardest hire in program history.
Next hire will define the state of the M football program, no doubt. The good news is, the egomaniac AD has surrendered to the common sense, team building AD. Hard to believe they played for the same coach once. Knowing Jim Hackett over the years (having played together), I guarantee this blog that he will make the proper hire. I look forward to his announcement that should occur around New Years eve, and I feel great this guy will not only stop the bleeding, but will restore M to it’s former greatness…
Very Good article. I don’t undrsetand why assistants at consistently successful programs get passed over for candidates with mediocre success but head coaching experience. And limiting the search to alumni is just stupid. I am afraid Penn State may head down that road whenever Paterno decides to quit.
Someday I would like to see an in depth analysis of why even though Brady Hoke did his best, his best came up short. What was missing from his coaching that led to a downhill slide for his 4 years? He had the recruiting classes (so they say); the facilities are first rate; I’m no aware anyone tied his hands in selecting his assistants. He was very well paid, he wanted the job, he knew the Michigan culture. Something in him wasn’t simply wasn’t able to motivate his highly rated players to play up to their potential.