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Michigan Football: Top 10 greatest coaches in program history

By Quinn Douglas

University of Michigan's head coach Lloyd Carr wonders what is going on during his teams loss to Ohio State University at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 19, 2005. Ohio State won the game 25-21. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
University of Michigan's head coach Lloyd Carr wonders what is going on during his teams loss to Ohio State University at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 19, 2005. Ohio State won the game 25-21. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown during the game against the Air Force Falcons at Michigan Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Air Force Falcons 29-13. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Karan Higdon #22 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown during the game against the Air Force Falcons at Michigan Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Air Force Falcons 29-13. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

6. Bump Elliot: 1959-1968

  • Career Record: 51-42-2
  • Awards and Accolades: 1964 Big Ten Champions

The man who preceded Bo Schembechler comes in at number six on the list. Bump Elliot was a star halfback for Fritz Crisler’s final two teams at Michigan, leading the Wolverines to the 1947 national championship. Elliot got his start in coaching immediately after graduation as an assistant at Michigan. He would have stops as an assistant at Oregon State and Iowa before returning to Ann Arbor in 1957 and becoming head coach in 1959.

Elliot’s first five season’s were rough, never winning more than six games and never finishing higher the fifth in the conference standings. However, his team in 1964 finished 9-1 and won the Big Ten Championship and won the Rose Bowl as well. His final four seasons saw a return to mediocrity and following a 50-14 shellacking by Ohio State in 1968, Elliot stepped down as head coach.

He would transition to an administrative career, spending a year as associate athletic director before becoming the athletic director at Iowa, where he would spend 21 years leading the Hawkeyes athletic program.

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