Fansided

5 candidates to replace John Beilein at Michigan

By Brad Berreman

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines shouts against the Florida Gators during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines shouts against the Florida Gators during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Justin Casterline/Getty Images /

3. Tod Kowalczyk

Over the last two seasons, Kowalchzyk has led Toledo to a 48-19 record (26-10 in MAC play over that span), and the Rockets are coming off a 25-8 mark with an NIT berth last year. Over 17 combined seasons at UW-Green Bay and Toledo, albeit with zero NCAA Tournament berths, he has a combined record of 303-241 (.557 win percentage) with six 20-win seasons. In 2013-14, the Rockets won a school-record 27 games under Kowalczyk.

Kowalczyk signed an extension at Toledo in March of 2018, so he’s under contract through the 2022-23 season. But contracts matter little in college coaching searches, and Michigan can give Kowalczyk a significant bump in pay if they want him.

At the time of signing his new deal, Kowalczyk expressed his comfort level at Toledo.

"Since we moved here in 2010, [his wife] Julie and I have ab­so­lutely loved liv­ing here, and this is where we want to raise our fam­ily,” Kow­al­czyk said. “We love be­ing a part of this com­mu­nity and look for­ward to be­ing ac­tive in the com­mu­nity for years to come."

But for as long as he has coached at smaller schools, with a measure of success, a jump to a bigger job would naturally have to appeal to Kowalczyk. Michigan should have him on their immediate list of candidates to replace Beilein.