,
Rainer Sabin
,
Orion Sang
| Detroit Free Press
Jim Harbaugh’s story: From a UM boy to Michigan football coach
Jim Harbaugh’s connection to Michigan’s football program dates back to the 1970s. Here’s a quick look at an impressive football career.
Tyler J. Davis, Des Moines Register
Jim Harbaugh will stick with Michigan football.
Harbaugh agreed to an extension of the contract that could keep him in Ann Arbor until 2025, according to a program press release on Friday.
The extension adds four years to Harbaugh’s business, which had only one year remaining and includes “revised financial terms as of January 11, 2021.”
JEFF SEIDEL: Harbaugh is the Michigan version of John Cooper. This is a shame
According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the extension reduces Harbaugh’s base salary to $ 4 million, but includes several incentives that allow him to double that amount if he manages to turn the program into material for the championship.
[ Jim Harbaugh is Michigan football’s version of John Cooper. That is a shame ]
Michigan Insider Sam Webb tweeted on Friday afternoon he had confirmed with Harbaugh that the extension had been signed.
Multiple sources confirmed for the Free Press escalators in the Harbaugh deal are linked to the victory of the Big Ten East Division and the Big Ten conference title, qualification for the College Football Playoff and claiming a national championship.
The sources requested anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the negotiations.
“My thanks to Athletic Director Warde Manuel for the confidence he has shown in allowing me to continue coaching the University of Michigan football team, and to President Mark Schlissel and the Board of Regents for their continued support,” said Harbaugh in the statement released. . “My additional thanks to Doug Gnodtke, our football team and the campus departments that continue to support our mission. In the past few weeks, Warde and I have had discussions that were honest, open, insightful and constructive to drive our football program. I hope to continue in the coming months and years. 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.
“Thanks to the University of Michigan players and their families, who trusted our program and our goals. All of our energy and focus is on establishing an exceptional foundation for the 2021 football season.”
Harbaugh, 57, has a 49-22 record since he was hired before the 2015 season, immediately returning the program to respectability after a series of bad seasons.
FIXING OD: Don Brown’s fall paves the way for the extension of Jim Harbaugh
JEFF SEIDEL: What if Jim Harbaugh was visited by the ghost of past football?
2020 IN REVIEW: See how we evaluate Michigan football, Jim Harbaugh
But Harbaugh’s recent struggles had left his future in doubt. He has not yet won Ohio State or advanced to the Big Ten championship game. And the Wolverines had a 2-4 record in 2020, including defeats to the oppressed Michigan State, Indiana for the first time since 1987 and a Penn State team with no wins at the time. The last three games of the Michigan season have been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19 within the program.
“I still believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in pursuit of the Big Ten and CFP championships,” said UM athletic director Warde Manuel. “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 take to lead and put us back on the right path.
“Jim loves the University of Michigan and this football program. He has been committed to this university, athletics department and football program since his days as a player and returned in 2015 as a head coach. He wants to do everything possible to build a championship football team while we train our student-athletes. We all need to do our part to continue to help in this quest, as we all need to go in the same direction to have a championship level program. “
The extension offers a resolution to the Michigan coach’s situation almost a month after the initial signing period, which ran from December 16 to 18. Harbaugh entered this season as the only coach of the Power Five with less than two years left on his contract.
Harbaugh told reporters this summer that a new contract was being drawn up, but the coronavirus pandemic interrupted those discussions.
“There are bigger fish to fry for our athletic director, or our administration, for me as a trainer,” said Harbaugh in July. “It hasn’t been at the top of the list of priorities. I expected something, that there would be an announcement at some point. “
When asked in mid-October about the status of his contract, Harbaugh echoed the sentiment.
“Just other fish, bigger fish to fry,” he said.
Harbaugh’s original contract was set to expire three days after the final game of the 2021 season. According to the USA Today Sports database of college football coaches’ salaries, he was expected to receive a salary of $ 7.79 million – the fourth highest figure in the country.
Manuel repeatedly expressed his desire to keep Harbaugh in Michigan for the rest of his coaching career.
“I stick to my decision and my declaration that I want him to retire here,” said Manuel at Big Ten’s ten sports director meetings in May 2019.
Contact Orion Sang at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more about Michigan Wolverines and subscribe to our Wolverines newsletter.