A lack of NFL interest in Jim Harbaugh apparently means Michigan and their head coach have to settle for each other.
Jim Harbaugh’s sixth season as Michigan’s coach did not go as planned (to say the least) but the Wolverines are reportedly moving forward with his tenure anyway. With Harbaugh’s previous deal set to cover just one more season, the coach and school are in the process of finalizing a five-year extension, according to The Athletic and The Detroit News.
CBS Sports
I guess the caveat for Michigan is at least they don’t have to pay Harbaugh as much to be an utter disappointment and completely overrated in this current state. Harbaugh’s base salary according to this deal will be $4 million per season which is roughly half of what he has made prior. His buyout is also expected to be lower but he could make up to $8 million per season with incentives.
Nothing about this isn’t enraging if you’re a Michigan fan. It’s clear Michigan doesn’t want Harbaugh and Harbaugh doesn’t want to be with Michigan. But this is nothing really but a losing situation for the Wolverines considering if he does somehow turn shit around he’ll leave — not that he’ll actually somehow find success in Ann Arbor at this point. I mean if it hasn’t happened by now, it never will. Meanwhile, Harbaugh can continue to lay massive dumps on the sidelines and still collect a paycheck.
What’s even more maddening is Warde Manuel’s lazy approach to all of this. He’s essentially taking the easy way out with all of this and offering a coach who doesn’t deserve to return an extension because Manuel is what I can only assume completely unwilling to embark on a coaching search to actually make the team better. Nonetheless, it’s naive to think that Michigan — given their resources — cannot go out and find something better.
Shit like this sets programs back further and gets AD’s fired.
UPDATE: Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have officially come to terms on his contract extension.