Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh said on Thursday that he did not feel a disconnect between his team or players last season, but cited his desire to make “improvements to everything” for the hiring of seven new assistants, including the defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
“I didn’t find any kind of disconnect, but I wanted to be strong in all areas, making improvements in everything,” said Harbaugh on Thursday after Michigan’s first two spring training sessions. “I would describe it that way. I didn’t think there was a disconnect, no.”
Harbaugh completed the team makeover on Monday, hiring defensive coach Matt Weiss, who worked for him at Stanford before spending the past 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens under Harbaugh’s brother John.
Jim Harbaugh said he will work alongside Weiss and directly train Michigan defenders in 2021.
Macdonald also came from the Ravens, where he has trained linebackers and defenders for the past four seasons.
The Wolverines were 2-4 last season – their first loss record under Harbaugh, who has not had a losing season as a head coach (NFL or college) since 2008 at Stanford (5-7).
Michigan replaced defensive coordinator Don Brown with 33-year-old Macdonald and brought in several other young coaches: defense co-coordinator Maurice Linguist (36), lineback coach George Helow (34), safetie coach Ron Bellamy (39) , Weiss (37) and running back trainer Mike Hart (34), the program’s career race leader.
“I’m just looking for great coaches, really,” said Harbaugh. “That was what I was looking for the most. … I feel like they are already talented coaches for their age and definitely coaches who will do great things in this profession.”
Harbaugh sought a lot of input to reshape his team, but said he values his brother’s opinion more than any other coach. Macdonald had worked on the Ravens’ team since 2014.
Although Harbaugh declined to specify what will change in defense as he moves from Brown to Macdonald, he was satisfied with the communication and energy of the new assistants.
“I have the right guys on board, working hard, training hard,” said Harbaugh. “I feel very good about the location of the staff.”