FILE - Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh stands on the field during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Minneapolis. The NCAA banned in-person advanced scouting in 1994 in part because not every school could afford to do it. Now Michigan is being investigated by the NCAA for a sign-stealing scheme that allegedly involved people secretly being sent to record opponents’ games. No. 2 Michigan and the Big Ten acknowledged the investigation Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)
Once more, there are whispers and rumors about Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan to join the NFL, even though the team is participating in the College Football Playoffs. He made a flirtatious return last year. Maybe he’ll feel flirtatious again this year, but he would be better off going back to Ann Arbor.
The Case for Keeping Jim Harbaugh at Michigan
“Who’s More Skillful Than Us?”
Following an atypically dismal 2-4 COVID campaign, rumors circulated that Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh was planning to leave Ann Arbor. Additionally, there were rumors that Warde Manuel, the athletic director, and Harbaugh were no longer on good terms.
Subsequently, Harbaugh consented to remain at Michigan and take a large base pay cut, with the possibility of receiving incentives to increase his overall compensation to the level he had before the pay cut. The Wolverines have now won three straight Big Ten Championships since the 2021 campaign. Despite losing both of their CFP trips, this is Harbaugh’s most accomplished and deepest team since he began staffing the Maize & Blue’s sidelines.
Following less than stellar performances from previous coaches Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, Harbaugh took over and rebuilt the program to the point where Michigan football is once again a national powerhouse, evoking memories of glory from many decades ago. It is no secret that Harbaugh has been toying with the idea of going back to the NFL for some time. He ought to remain exactly where he is.
Actually, Harbaugh is the one who said the opening line of this section. The reason is that not many coaches are as good as Harbaugh, and not many teams are as good as Michigan at the moment. There’s no reason he should look into other options, especially considering the school is negotiating a $55 million, five-year extension. In Ann Arbor, the grass is always green.
Authority And Domination
In theory, Harbaugh can be fired by Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manual. In actuality, though, that is untrue. Santa Ono, the president of the university, would make that choice. That is unlikely to occur, given his recent demonstration of support for coach Harbaugh following the sign-stealing controversy. In many respects, that places Harbaugh as the second most powerful man on campus.
