As I wrote over the weekend, because of its fluid athletic director situation, Michigan should aggressively pursue Jim Harbaugh or Les Miles.

They are big enough names that the hiring of a permanent AD in 2015 wouldn’t affect the way they did their jobs; they’re bigger than the AD’s office.

But what if neither Michigan Man is interested? Where would interim AD Jim Hackett and the school’s administration then turn?

Michigan needs a coach who can catch up to the aggressive pace being set in the Big Ten by Urban Meyer and Ohio State. Meyer has moved the league into a new era. As positive as that is for competitive balance across the nation, it has forced discomfort from old-guard, slow-to-adapt Big Ten administrators.

I spoke this week with a Big Ten coach frustrated about his school’s regents and their inability to understand that spending money is necessary to be competitive.

Michigan isn’t that rigid in its thinking, but it needs a big hire to allow the program to catch up with Ohio State. That’s why Harbaugh and Miles are the best fits and should be coveted. The message would be sent that Michigan is serious about regaining its footing in the league.

Also, the new staff, whenever it arrives, has work to do. There were four in-season decommitments, leaving Michigan just seven prospects pledged for the 2015 class. The recent defections caused UM to drop 11 spots to No. 38 in the latest RecruitingNation class rankings.

Who else is out there?

1. Butch Jones, Tennessee head coach