Jim Harbaugh has decided to stay in Michigan. Now it’s up for the Wolverines and the Wolverines, to balance the bother with the triumph

Jim Harbaugh announced Monday He would be Michigan’s head coach.

Perhaps it’s because, as he stated, “I love the relationships I have at Michigan.” Or perhaps it’s because he had nowhere else to go … no NFL offers coming in despite a willingness to interview.

At this point, it doesn’t really matter. Michigan will retain the coach who led them to consecutive Big Ten titles and consecutive College Football Playoff appearances. Most importantly, they are retaining the coach who has guided them to consecutive victories over arch-rival Ohio State.

Harbaugh and a lot of returning talent are the Wolverines favorites to win next season.

“My heart is at the University of Michigan,” Harbaugh stated.

Perhaps that is true, but if so, it didn’t stop him from interviewing for NFL jobs (Minnesota last year, Denver this time). This must stop if he truly wants to stay.

A third dalliance with the pros will be even more ridiculous and exhausting than this year’s dalliance with the pros after he vehemently assured everyone that there wouldn’t be any more dalliances with the pros.

Harbaugh can be difficult. Harbaugh can coach football. He has won 25-3 in the past two seasons. He doesn’t do much in an orthodox manner, and that has led to infuriated bosses from college to the NFL, whether as a player or coach.

For Michigan though, he is the best they’ve had in a long time and the best they are going to get at this time. Fair or not, it’s up to the school to find a way to live with Harbaugh, rather than Harbaugh to reciprocate.

Jim Harbaugh causes Michigan a fair share of headaches, but he's also the reason the Wolverines have won the Big Ten, made the College Football Playoff and beaten Ohio State in back-to-back seasons.  (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh can cause a lot of headaches. But he’s also why the Wolverines won the Big Ten and made it to the College Football Playoff. He also helped Ohio State beat Ohio State in consecutive seasons. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images).

This includes a bizarre NCAA scandal where Harbaugh’s program is cited, in a draft of a Notice of Allegations, of committing four Level II violations — generally moderate-to-minor things that carry moderate-to-minor consequences — and one Level I violation … of not cooperating with investigators about it.

Harbaugh singlehandedly turned a molehill into a likely suspension — either games, in recruiting or both. Harbaugh left the university in dismay and was unsure what to do next. He was unsure if he would be open to discussing the NCAA more and move on. Or he would continue to fight for every good reason. What do you do with a guy who isn’t honest?

Harbaugh v. NCAA remains to be decided, but sources suggest that there is a way to reach an agreement with those involved in the violations. Even if Harbaugh is suspended for the start of the 2023 season. The Wolverines start the season with a weak slate of games, including UNLV, East Carolina, Bowling Green, Rutgers and Bowling Green all at home.

Michigan’s season ends in the best possible way. Michigan State at end of October, Penn State at mid-November and Ohio State at Ann Arbor.

The Wolverines are in a good position. All stars J.J. McCarthy and Blake Corum are back, as is Donovan Edwards, Will Johnson, and Donovan Edwards. And Harbaugh is benefitting from a new NIL collective dubbed “The One More Year Fund” that helped bring back Corum and fellow NFL Draft-eligible stars Cornelius Johnson, Michael Barrett, Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, among others.

Harbaugh is now well-positioned for a strong Class 2024. He’s never been a truly elite recruiter, but his first order of business should be shoring up potential five stars such as quarterback Jadyn Davis of North Carolina and wide receiver Ryan Wingo of Missouri.

Add in Harbaugh’s skill thus far in working the transfer portal, and it’s possible the modern system of roster management may prove perfect for him and his program.

He must be committed to making all this work. He’s made the good times unduly hard, turned a program with momentum into one draped in uncertainty. It was all self-inflicted.

“I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to out-happy, happy,” Harbaugh said.

He’s not wrong about that. But is he content? Can he be content?

It’s seemingly all there. His alma mater, his hometown, have been rewarded with many big wins and success. At 59 he’s set up for the seasons to come. With an expanded playoff coming, each season won’t come down to a single game against the relentless Buckeyes.

Jim Harbaugh thought it would take him longer to get Michigan this far. It is now where it makes more sense to stay put than try to land every NFL job. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been smooth. It hasn’t occurred without some ruffled feathers and broken relationships.

He’s back though, either out of necessity or true appreciation. Maybe this all churns up again in 12 months, but for Michigan, at this point, that’s the deal it has to live with.

They remain the Big Ten’s favorite team.

Previous post Joplin CVB requests tourism study
Next post Institutional investors have a lot riding in FibroGen, Inc.’s (7NASDAQ:FGEN) ownership.