Even as Michigan was making its run to the national championship game, Jim Harbaugh faced questions about his future. Was the NFL going to come calling and would he answer? Or would a contract extension be signed, keeping him in Ann Arbor for the time being?
We got our answer not too long after Michigan took down Washington to win the program’s first title since 1997. Harbaugh is now with the Los Angeles Chargers after spending nearly a decade with the Wolverines.
Harbaugh left but not without Michigan reportedly attempting to give him a fresh contract. Despite facing potential punishments for investigations surrounding the program, a five-year contract worth potentially over $11 million a year was extended to the head coach.
“On the other side, by this time, Michigan had offered to make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in college football — a rollover five-year contract north of $11 million per year plus additional performance-based bonuses,” an excerpt of John Talty’s new book, The Price, said. “In exchange, university lawyers had pressed for termination language that would protect the school in the event of an unforeseen turn in the sign-stealing investigation.”
Even with Harbaugh gone, there has been no resolution to the sign-stealing investigation involving Connor Stalions. The whole situation unfolded during the regular season, causing Harbaugh to miss the final three contests. It brought his total number of games suspended to six after missing the opening three.
There was a belief from Tom Mars, Harbaugh’s attorney, that the COI was going to punish his client no matter what. Even if he had no direct affiliation with the sign-stealing scandal, “vicarious coaches’ responsibility legislation” would be how a punishment would be handed out.
Michigan wanted some kind of protection in case Harbaugh had to be terminated, likely attempting to save the school from paying a massive buyout fee.
“I think where the stumbling block came was trying to find the best way to handle any additional information from the second case we didn’t know at the time of [contract] signing,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel told Talty in his book.
Instead, Sherrone Moore will be taking over as the Wolverines’ full-time head coach. He replaced Harbaugh during those six games, winning them all. There seems to be a confidence Moore can continue the great run Michigan has been on but there was no doubt an attempt to keep Harbaugh for another few seasons.
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