Who Should Harbaugh Hire?: Defensive Coordinator

In one of the craziest years of college football coaching moves, Michigan is now flipping through the resumes as Jim Harbaugh searches for a defensive coordinator to replace DJ Durkin, the new Maryland head coach. And when you look at Harbaugh’s history of turning assistant coaches into head coaches, you can understand why everyone and their mother is applying for the job. But who will land the gig?

Here are the top names (and their quick resume) that are said to be legit candidates to be UM’s next DC:

Lance Anderson
- Age: 44
- Currently: Director of Defense at Stanford
- Formerly:
  - DT/OLB Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Stanford (2007-14)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - DT Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Harbaugh at Stanford (2007-09)
  - DL Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Harbaugh at San Diego (2005-06)
Jim Leavitt
- Age: 59
- Currently: Defensive Coordinator at Colorado
- Formerly:
  - LB Coach for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14)
  - USF Head Coach (1996-09)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - LB Coach for Harbaugh at the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14)
Dean Pees
- Age: 66
- Currently: Defensive Coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens
- Formerly:
  - LB Coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2010-11)
  - Defensive Coordinator for the New England Patriots (2006-09)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - LB Coach and DC for the Baltimore Ravens under John Harbaugh
Randy Shannon
- Age: 49
- Currently: Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/LB Coach for Miami (FL)
- Formerly:
  - Miami (FL) Head Coach (2007-10)
  - Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys (1989-90)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - None (that I know of)
Vic Fangio
- Age: 57
- Currently: Defensive Coordinator for the Chicago Bears
- Formerly:
  - DC for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14)
  - DC for Stanford (2010)
  - DC for the Houston Texas (2002-05)
  - DC for the Indianapolis Colts (1999-01)
  - DC for the Carolina Panthers (1995-98)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - DC for Harbaugh at Stanford and for the 49ers (2010-14)

Here are some names that have been mentioned but I believe are long shots, even though they may “interview” for the job:

Jeremy Pruitt
- Age: 41
- Currently: Defensive Coordinator for Georgia (for the time being)
- Formerly:
  - DC and DB Coach for Florida State (2013)
  - DB Coach for Alabama (2010-12)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - None (that I know of)
Chuch Pagano
- Age: 55
- Currently: Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts
- Formerly:
  - DC for the Baltimore Ravens (2011)
  - DB Coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2008-11)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - DC/DB Coach for the Baltimore Ravens under John Harbaugh (2008-11)
Butch Davis
- Age: 64
- Currently: TV Analyst
- Formerly:
  - Head Coach at North Carolina (2007-10)
  - Head Coach for the Cleveland Browns (2001-04)
  - Head Coach for Miami (FL) (1995-2000)
  - DC for the Dallas Cowboys (1993-94)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - None (that I know of)
Greg Jackson
- Age: 49
- Currently: DB Coach at Michigan
- Formerly:
  - Assistant DB Coach for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14)
  - NFL Safety for 4 different teams (1989-2000)
- Ties to Harbaugh:
  - DB Coach for the 49ers and Michigan (2011-present)
  - Teammate at San Diego (1999-2000)

There are most of the top names being thrown out there to replace DJ Durkin as the leader of Michigan’s defense. So, who do you want Harbaugh to hire? (Feel free to add more names in the comment section if I forgot any):

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Photo Credit: John McDonnell/The Washington Post

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Garrett Fishaw

Marketing Manager and Communications Director by day, Owner and Managing Editor of MGoFish.com by night. Detroit resident. Played soccer and graduated from Seton Hill University.

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