Report: Recently-hired Michigan assistant tapped as frontrunner for Buffalo job

The Michigan Wolverines have spent much of the offseason retooling Jim Harbaugh’s coaching and support staff and it appears that work may have to continue. Football Scoop is reporting that co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist is the frontrunner to land the head coaching job at Buffalo.

Buffalo’s vacancy came open recently when Lance Leipold replaced Les Miles at Kansas. The report also states that Minnesota co-defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is also being considered for the opening.

Linguist has ties to the Buffalo program, as he was on the coaching staff in 2012-13. Michigan hired him away from the Dallas Cowboys this winter to co-coordinate the new defense with Mike Macdonald. The Wolverines wrapped up spring football practices in April as they worked to install the new schemes in place and set a foundation for fall camp.

This would be a massive blow to Michigan’s rebooting efforts, as Linguist is a talented recruiter and a young assistant that has already proven himself to be an asset for Harbaugh. The report says that Buffalo will make its decision shortly, but having to replace an assistant in May without a wide array of available options is not ideal. It also changes the entire dynamic of the defensive coaching staff with a first-time coordinator currently in place.

Michigan rarely makes it easy on themselves when it comes to good fortune, but this would be an example of something cosmically going against them. These reports are just that at the moment, but what a bummer this would be.