Mike Hart joins the Michigan team as a running back trainer

Mike Hart joins the Michigan team as a running back trainer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday (January 13) the hiring of the ex-running back of Wolverine Mike Hart as the program’s running back mentor. The greatest rusher of all time in Michigan football history, Hart has been the running back coach at Indiana University for the past four seasons (2017-20). He was promoted to associate head coach in 2020, after serving as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

“I am excited about the addition of Mike Hart to our offensive technical team,” said Harbaugh. “Mike is a great coach and Michigan Man who has shown the ability to develop and elevate the performance of the running backs he coached. We look forward to welcoming Mike, Monique and their children into the Michigan Football family.”

“Michigan has always had a special place in my heart,” said Hart. “It is a place that has always believed in me and in which I have always believed. Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan team and can’t wait to start working with a talented running back group. “

In his 10 seasons as a coach, Hart taught four 1,000-yard runners, two freshmen of the year at the Mid-American Conference and the 2014 MAC offensive player of the year, Jarvion Franklin.

As a member of the Indiana technical team, Hart was nominated for the 2018 Broyles Award and received recognition as one of Rivals.com’s top 25 recruiters for his work in the 2019 hiring class.

Hart was instrumental in the development of the Indiana racing game, with the program winning 1,888 yards and 17 running touchdowns in 2018. IU continued to produce 1,695 yards and 24 TDs in 2019. The Hoosiers won 869 yards and scored 12 TDs during the reduced Campaign period 2020.

Hart developed Stevie Scott into an all-conference artist with tailback winning the second All-Big Ten team in the past two seasons (2019-20) after receiving honorable mention as a freshman. Scott set Indiana’s true freshman running record with 1,137 yards in 228 attempts and 10 running touchdowns in 2018. He had six 100-yard run games as a freshman and became the 19th Hoosier to reach the 1,000 yard mark. running.

In 2020, Scott won 561 running yards and scored 10 touchdowns in eight disputes. He became the 14th Hoosier running back to over 2,000 yards (2,543 yards) and is currently the fourth in IU history with 30 running TDs.

Hart returned to his home state as a running back trainer at Syracuse University for the 2016 season before accepting the running back position in Indiana.

He spent two seasons at Kalamazoo (2014-15), helping Western Michigan win consecutive bowl bids for the first time in school history at the 2015 Bahamas Bowl and the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Hart trained two Broncos running backs for the MAC freshman honors of the year, after seasons of a thousand yards. Jamauri Bogan ran for 1,051 yards and was second in the league with 16 TDs in 2015. Jarvion Franklin won 1,551 yards, the second highest total for a freshman, and set WMU single season records by points (150) and run TDs ( 24) in 2014. Franklin was also named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and received the honors from USA Today Freshman All-American.

Hart began his coaching career in Eastern Michigan, serving as an offensive quality control coach during the 2011 season, before being elevated to running back coaches in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Under Hart’s tutelage, the solo game from 2013 he accumulated 1,896 yards after winning 1,960 yards in 2012. Bronson Hill surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in 2013 to finish 31st nationally and earn third team All-MAC honors.

Hart held the running back for the Wolverines for four years (2004-07), and set the school record with 5,040 yards on 1,015 loads and 41 run touchdowns. He holds the Michigan record with 28 race games for 100 yards in his career and his 117.2 race yards for competition are the best in the school’s history. As a receiver, Hart added 67 receptions for 566 yards and scored two TDs.

Two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award, Hart finished fifth in the vote for the 2006 Heisman Trophy. He was one of the first three selections for the All-Big Ten and was named the 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Hart shared the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award in 2006 and received the honor again in 2007.

After graduating from Michigan in 2009, Hart was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played three seasons for the Colts, mostly as a reserve, carrying the ball 71 times in 264 yards and two TDs in 21 games. He was a member of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLIV winning team and had two races in victory against the Chicago Bears.

Born in Syracuse, NY, Hart studied at Onondaga Central High School. He set the national high school career record with 204 touchdowns and finished second with 11,045 running yards. Onondaga Central compiled a 46-1 record and won three state championships during Hart’s career.

Hart and his wife, Monique, have three children.