Michigan interim football coach isn’t holding back on ‘underperforming’ program, changes are needed

Biff Poggi is brutally honest in his assessment of the state of Michigan’s football program amid his pursuit to be named the Wolverines’ next head coach.

In the wake of Sherrone Moore’s firing, Poggi has been put in charge of the team to guide them through their upcoming bowl game against Texas on New Year’s Eve. addressing reporters on Monday, he gave a blunt view of what the program stands for.

“For five years it has been a, let’s call it what it is, a dysfunctional organization where something happens every year,” he said. “I know the athletic director has made it very clear that he doesn’t want that anymore. If I’m named coach — and I don’t know if I am — there will be a major soul-searching into what’s happening in the building, and you can expect a lot of changes.”

Michigan has expanded its research to take a broader look at its athletic department and the culture surrounding it.

Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block is conducting the investigation.

Despite the program winning a national title in 2023, Michigan has been plagued by scandals in recent years, ranging from allegations that former co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss illegally accessed private student information to recruiting violations under former head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Conor Stalion’s sign-stealing scandal dominated headlines during the 2023 season.

“For me, and I think a lot of our coaches, it wasn’t fun anymore,” Poggi said. “It’s been a long time. It just wasn’t comfortable [situation].”

Here’s the latest on former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore

Poggi also said he felt the players were starting to have fun again since the most recent scandal broke. Moore was dismissed earlier this month after the university said he had an inappropriate relationship with an employee. He was later arrested for breaking into the home of a female football staffer and threatening suicide.

Poggi previously served as head coach at Charlotte during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, finishing 6-16 during that span.

Michigan athletics administrators have had conversations with Poggi about taking on the head coaching role full-time and it is one he has expressed a desire to do.

“I know what I’m doing. I’ve known about this place for 10 years,” Poggi said when asked why he thinks Michigan should hire him. “This place is very important to me. … This place is magical. And the program means a lot to me. And it’s one of the things I want to fix before I start smoking myself to death with cigars. It’s one of the things I want to fix. I want to fix this program.”