Jim Harbaugh has reached an extension of contract to remain Michigan football coach until the 2025 season, sports director Warde Manuel announced on Friday.
A source confirmed to ESPN that the new deal includes a lower base salary and many performance incentives. Harbaugh had another year of his initial Michigan contract, which paid the coach just over $ 8 million in 2020.
“I continue to believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in the search for the Big Ten and CFP championships,” said Manuel in a statement. “Our program has not reached the level that everyone expected this year, but I know that these setbacks will keep coaches, players and the team moving forward. Jim is a hard worker and competitor. it will be necessary for Jim to lead and put us back on the right track. “
Michigan and Harbaugh began discussing a new contract after the team’s regular season ended in November. Harbaugh spent much of the last weeks of vacation in California, but returned to Ann Arbor this week, a source said.
In a note, Harbaugh thanked Manuel and University Dean Mark Schlissel, among others.
“In the past few weeks, Warde and I had discussions that were honest, open, insightful and constructive to move our football program forward. Discussions that I hope to continue for the next few months and years,” said Harbaugh. “We have a plan.
“There is work to be done and challenges to be faced. These challenges are being faced as we continue to strive for excellence in the classroom and championships in the field, a message that I hope will be noticed in the language of our signed contract.”
The Wolverines ended the 2020 season at 2-4, canceling their final three games because of the concerns of COVID-19 within the program.
Harbaugh, a former Michigan defender, has 49-22 in six seasons at school and 34-16 in the Big Ten game, but his worst season in his alma mater is coming off by far. Michigan won 10 games and finished in the top 15 in three of the first four seasons, but has yet to defeat rival Ohio State and lost four consecutive bowl games.
Michigan fired defensive coordinator Don Brown last month, and six other assistants have contracts that expire on Sunday.
The school said in its statement that Harbaugh was “in the process of evaluating and assembling his team for the 2021 season”.
Dan Murphy of ESPN contributed to this report.