Perhaps the most important hire Hoke will make is defensive coordinator.  This is an area of critical need.

Personally, I think even if Denard leaves (which would suck), the offense will be okay.  Gardner is a talented player who could become a terror if used properly, and I think Borges offense suits him well.  I'd like to incorporate his running a bit more into that since he's faster than Jason Campbell, but Gardner is a good downfield passer.  Mix in some power running and the offense should be fine.

On defense, however, the right coordinator will make all the difference.  We also need very strong position coaches.

Possibilities

Randy Shannon- quite simply, the best candidate out there.  Has fielded top-10 defenses every year but one at Miami as DC and Head Coach.  Good recruiter, very good man (though not the best HC), and a minority candidate, and it sucks I have to say this these days but that will reflect well on the university.  He's my pick.

Chuck Heater- a close second.  Heater has coached very talented DB's at Florida (Joe Haden, Janoris Jenkins) and has turned them into high-first round talents.  He's been coaching for 34 years (and yet is still only 55) and is an amazing recruiter.  Co- DC at Florida this year, which had an extremely good season.  And Heater was a tailback at Michigan, so if the AD insists on "Michigan Men", he'd be a very good pick.

Mike Trgovac: Played under Bo Schembechler, also worked at Michigan as a graduate assistant.  Currently the defensive line coach for the Packers (and it's hard not to be impressed with how he has developed BJ Raji), before that was DC for the Carolina Panthers from 2003until 2008.  Remember, the Panthers always had a very good defense, and he was also their defensive line coach in 2002 (the same year they drafted Julius Peppers).  Michigan man?  Check.  Strong track record of success?  Check.  Ability to coach up players?  Check.  Imagine Mike Martin coming to him to discuss entry into the NFL draft.  Trgovac can simply say "A year with me and you will be first round material.  Look at Raji and Peppers."

What do you guys think?  Any other suggestions?