Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan with good foundation, unlike Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley, who exit
While setting up the program for future success, Harbaugh left last week to take a position as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. The program has a strong foundation, and Michigan recently won a national championship, which is why Harbaugh is leaving.
At his first press conference, Moore mentioned Harbaugh and added, Coach, I love you. I’ve got your back and will handle this in the proper manner.
Moore is a rising star in the coaching world who will eventually become a head coach, as Harbaugh has long maintained. This season, Moore went 4-0 in his role as Harbaugh’s stand-in coach while he was suspended.
Moore has shown his ability to succeed at the highest levels while leading the team to significant victories over Penn State and Ohio State.
Any bad effects from Harbaugh’s departure are mitigated by Moore, a coach the players appear to enjoy and whom Harbaugh believes in and trusts. Michigan hasn’t experienced a major departure via the transfer portal like they have, in contrast to Alabama and Washington, which both saw head coaching vacancies arise as a result of Nick Saban’s retirement at Alabama and Kalen DeBoer replacing Saban at Washington. And that is all related to the framework and atmosphere that Harbaugh established in Michigan.
It is true that Jay Harbaugh, the special teams coordinator and safety coach, and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter are going with him, along with former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert. But even after Harbaugh leaves the Chargers, the majority of the Michigan staff and his winning culture will remain in Ann Arbor.
It was not at all shocking that Harbaugh, fresh off a national championship, would head to the NFL. He brought the Wolverines their first national championship since 1948, which was the greatest thing he could have done for the team. The 60-year-old Harbaugh has made no secret of his passion for the NFL.
Harbaugh remarked, It was challenging. My wife, the kids, and I were torn. I adore Michigan. I also adore the NFL. Additionally, there isn’t a Lombardi Trophy in college football, Harbaugh declared during Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Chiefs and Ravens. And I still have a ton of sand in the hourglass. And I would like to try my hand at that.
Warde Manuel, the athletic director at Michigan, stated last week that Jim has always been quite honest with his communication with NFL opportunities and has been helpful with this transition in leadership.
While Harbaugh’s assistance during the transition is unusual in college football, it is typical for coaches to leave their positions and cause rifts in their wake.
For instance, Brian Kelly refuted reports that he was considering leaving Notre Dame several weeks before he left for LSU.
Kelly answered, No. Well, look, I believe Mike Tomlin had the greatest line. My wife would want to look at that first, unless that $250 million check comes in the mail from the fairy godmother. I would need to get her approval.
Kelly held a team meeting for 7 a.m. the following morning after his players were stunned to learn on social media that he was accepting the position at LSU. Kelly’s speech to the players lasted less than two minutes, after which he turned around and left, according to Pete Sampson of The Athletic. He declined to answer any queries from the athletes.
Then there is Lincoln Riley, who in November 2021 took an early morning jet from Oklahoma to Los Angeles to take over as USC’s next head coach. Riley traveled by plane with other Oklahoma employees, who later joined his USC staff.
Breaking: Lincoln Riley arrived at a private hangar at Will Rogers airport this morning to fly for Los Angeles, accompanied by defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, WRs coach Dennis Simmons, director of operations Clarke Stroud, and strength coach Bennie Wylie.
Riley then found quarterback Caleb Williams among three Oklahoma players in the transfer portal. Williams is most likely going to be selected first overall in the NFL Draft in 2024. Following Riley’s departure, Oklahoma would have a dismal 2022 season, finishing 6-7.
There is a stark difference between Riley and Kelly’s program-leaving strategy and Harbaugh’s departure strategy. Sherrone Moore will have challenges in the constantly evolving collegiate athletics scene, but he and the Wolverines have a strong chance of succeeding in 2024.
Transitions are never simple. Running back Donovan Edwards, tight end Colston Loveland, outstanding defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and possibly the greatest cornerback in the country, Will Johnson, are all returning. Beyond those names, there’s no shortage of returning quality, and the club will strive to live up to the high expectations placed on them as the current national champions.
After a 2-4 season in 2020, Harbaugh persevered and managed to lead Michigan to victory in the last three games against Ohio State. The team has won three Big Ten titles, qualified for the College Football Playoffs three times in a row, and won a national championship.
All great movies have an ending, and the memorable scenes in a movie are usually those that occur in the last act. Harbaugh will be recognized for having revived the program’s grandeur, and his final performance at Michigan was his best.
Since 1936, when the AP poll was first used, Harbaugh has been the only coach to quit their position as soon as they have won a national championship. The other four coaches—Tom Osborne, Howard Schnellenberger, Johnny Majors, and Bernie Bierman—did not accept jobs in the NFL.
It is appropriate to evaluate Harbaugh’s exit differently, as it is genuinely unlike any other that has taken place in the decades that college football has existed.
It’s in the NFL, where Michigan players aspire to be in the near future, that Harbaugh has given Michigan the last ten years of his life. Both Michigan and Harbaugh ought to be able to prosper throughout their separation.
