Nico Collins will not have a problem adjusting to the NFL life when it comes to coaching. During his four-year tenure at the University of Michigan, Collins played under head coach Jim Harbaugh — the former NFL Coach of the Year winner in 2011.
According to Collins, coach Harbaugh is one of the main reasons he feels ready to play on an NFL level. Harbaugh ran his program at Michigan like an NFL team and shared advice about playing football at the highest level.
“He coached us like an NFL team would and gave us advice,” Collins said after the Houston Texans selected him with the 89th overall pick during the 2021 NFL Draft. “Things like that got me ready for the NFL. He got me ready for life after football, too. Harbaugh did a lot for me and I’m thankful he was my coach and I’m blessed I played under him, for sure.”
Since taking over Michigan in 2015, Harbaugh’s staff has consist of several NFL assistant coaches.
Texans’ new quarterback coach Pep Hamilton served as Michigan’s assistant head coach & passing game coordinator for two seasons (2017 & 2018). Ben McDaniels, the Texans’ new assistant wide receivers coach, worked as Harbaugh’s offensive assistant since 2018. Both Hamilton and McDaniels will be reunited with Collins in Houston this season.
Prior to his time at Michigan, Harbaugh served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014. Under Harbaugh, the 49ers went 44-19-1 during the regular season and made the postseason in three of his four years. In 2012, Harbaugh led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII, where they fell 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens.