After weeks and weeks of speculation, the University of Michigan (UM) confirmed that Brady Hoke is no longer the school's head football coach.

Jim Hackett, interim athletic director at UM, announced the decision in a press conference Tuesday after news broke of his and Hoke's meeting that day.

"This was not an easy decision given the level of respect that I have for Brady. He has done a great job of molding these young men, making them accountable to their teammates, focusing them on success in the classroom and in the community," Hackett said in a press release. "I wanted to make sure that Brady received adequate time to exhibit the results that would come from his effort and I believe that Brady and our coaching staff had enough time to produce those results and unfortunately they are not there. In the end, I feel that moving in a different direction is the right decision. I wish Brady and his family all the best in the future."

After starting out as an assistant coach on the football team from 1995 to 2002, he took over as the 19th head football coach in school history in 2011.

"I will always support the University and this football program. This is a special place and one that Laura, Kelly and I have enjoyed representing during our time in Ann Arbor," Hoke said in the release. "I want to thank all of the sons that played for our teams and appreciate the commitment that our coaches and support staff made to the program every day. I will miss the relationships that I've been fortunate enough to make within this university and community."

Hackett said the search for Hoke's replacement will begin immediately and the school will likely spare no expense. No team in college football history has more wins than Michigan, so rebuilding such a proud program will be a coveted job. ESPN listed the early targets UM is expected to pursue (all are head coaches unless noted otherwise):

  • Jim Harbuagh - S.F. 49ers
  • Les Miles - LSU
  • Butch Jones - Tennessee
  • Greg Schiano - unemployed
  • Dan Mullen - Mississippi State
  • Mark Stoops - Kentucky
  • Mike Gundy - Oklahoma State