Pop the champaign Ohio State fans, Jim Harbaugh is staying on at Michigan as the head coach in Ann Arbor. That’s right, according to a release from the Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel Friday, Harbaugh has officially signed a contract extension.
Here’s the full release from those folks “up north:”
“I continue to believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in pursuit of Big Ten and CFP championships,” said Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics in a statement. “Our program didn’t achieve at a level that anyone expected this year, but I know those setbacks will drive the coaches, players and staff moving forward. Jim is a tireless worker and competitor. Following the completion of the season we talked for many hours on what it will take for Jim to lead and get us back on the right trajectory.
“Jim loves the University of Michigan and this football program. He has been committed to this university, athletic department and football program since his days as a player and returning in 2015 as the head coach. He wants to do everything possible to build a championship football team while graduating our student-athletes. We all need to do our part to continue to help in that pursuit as it takes everyone pulling the same direction to have a championship level program.”
Jim Harbaugh also reacted with a statement of his own in the release.
“My thanks to Athletic Director Warde Manuel for the trust that he has shown in allowing me to continue to coach the University of Michigan football team, and to President Mark Schlissel and the Board of Regents for their on-going support,” said Harbaugh. “My additional thanks to Doug Gnodtke, our football staff and those departments on campus who continue to support our mission. Over the past few weeks, Warde and I had discussions that have been honest, open, insightful and constructive in moving our football program forward. Discussions that I look forward to continuing over the months and years ahead. We have a plan.
“There is work to be done and challenges to be addressed. These challenges are being addressed as we continue to strive for excellence in the classroom and championships on the field, a message that I hope is noted in the language of our agreed-upon contract.
“Thanks to our University of Michigan players and their families who have placed their trust in our program and our goals. All our energy and focus is directed toward laying an outstanding foundation for the 2021 football season.”
It’s no secret Harbaugh has an uphill climb to get the Wolverine program to where all those that put their confidence in him thought he’d take it. Under his lead, Michigan has just a 49-22 overall record, and a 34-16 record in the Big Ten. While that’s great for a lot of places, it’s not where many Michigan men would like things to be.
OFFICIAL: Warde Manuel Announces Contract Extension for Coach Jim Harbaugh » https://t.co/UZKP40GZJ8
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 8, 2021
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Also noteworthy is the fact that Harbaugh is 0-5 against Ohio State, 3-3 against Michigan State, 1-4 in bowl games, and 1-8 against top ten teams.
In some ways, it’s refreshing to see a program continue to show faith in a process with a coach and give him a longer leash. On the flip side of the coin, it feels like the Wolverines have come to grips with the reality that they just aren’t able to do much better.
I for one root for Michigan to get its act back together so that things build back into a frenzy for the rivalry with Ohio State, but it’s hard to see any momentum towards that with this news. Harbaugh is currently in the process of making wholesale changes on his staff, so we’ll keep an eye on that as well.
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