Angelique S. Chengelis: Burning Questions

Miles strong, but not alone

Burning questions after Lloyd Carr announced his retirement

Q . Let's get this on the table right now -- do you think Les Miles is the next Michigan coach?

A . It is hard for me to believe Miles is not the strongest candidate right now. Do I think he's signed, sealed and delivered? Do I think he is the one and only candidate? No and no. But he is appealing on a lot of levels. At the risk of being redundant, since we can all seem to rattle off his bio, he did play at Michigan under his mentor and coaching idol, Bo Schembechler, and he was an assistant coach here.

He has broadened his horizons, venturing into the NFL ranks and working as a head coach at Oklahoma State and, now, LSU, where he has a national-championship-contending team. The guy is a winner, there's no doubt about it. There's also no doubt the sentiment in Baton Rouge seems to indicate the LSU fans think their coach is a goner. They all know his affection for Michigan. They all know he has coveted that job.

If Miles is Michigan athletic director Bill Martin's man, Martin will have to wait. Miles must be fair to his team and must -- as he has said repeatedly -- maintain his focus on leading the Tigers to what many believe will be a shot at the BCS national title.

Q . There has been some speculation there are some in the Michigan "family" who are not particularly fond of Miles. True?

A . That really does depend to whom you talk. The reaction to the name, "Les Miles," is not consistent. Some who know him roll their eyes. Others think he would be perfect for the job. Some who played under him at Michigan call him a great X's and O's coach and a technician. Others who played under him said they did not enjoy his coaching.

There are some that ask: If Miles is such a great "Michigan Man," then why on earth did he vote U-M third in last year's coaches' poll? Ohio State and Florida finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and Michigan was third, missing out on a rematch against the Buckeyes in the national title game.

Carr, during his retirement speech on Monday, made reference to the challenges of the recruiting trail and seemed to be absolving some of conflicts. Could that have been a veiled reference to Miles? After all, it does sound as though some of the issues the current staff may have with Miles have been in the recruiting wars.

Martin will hear plenty about all of his candidates and will have to do his best to weigh the good and the bad to find what he believes is true.

Q . Are there coaches on the current staff that will interview for the job?

A . Martin said Monday he absolutely intends to interview candidates from Carr's staff. The two most likely candidates are the coordinators, Mike DeBord and Ron English. The prevailing opinion is if Carr could hand-pick his successor, it would be his close friend, DeBord, who gained some head-coaching experience at Central Michigan. There is no doubt in my mind that DeBord, who has coordinated the Michigan offense, covets the head-coaching job just as much as Miles.

English, the 39-year-old brash defensive coordinator, does not have head-coaching experience. He does not believe that is an issue. "I wouldn't be intimidated at all about being the head coach at the University of Michigan or any institution, particularly with Coach Carr to lean on and all the people here," English said. "I think it would be foolish for anyone to not want to be the head coach here."

Brady Hoke, now the head coach at Ball State, is a former Michigan assistant under Carr. He is in the midst of his season and can't talk about other jobs, but don't for a moment think Hoke would turn down a chance to talk. Who would?

Q . OK, you are the Michigan athletic director. What are you looking for in a head coach?

A . Call me a sucker for principles, but I would like to see a man of integrity coach Michigan. Cliché, right? I know that. But you know what? Maybe Lloyd Carr didn't give U-M fans all the victories they wanted in big games -- and don't ever think Carr and his players weren't trying to win -- but what he was a straight-shooter. What you saw is what you got.

Burning Questions You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at Angelique.Chengelis@detnews.com.