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Jim Harbaugh Extended Comment Count

Seth February 16th, 2022 at 5:20 PM

Full steam ahead. Michigan announced this afternoon that they and Harbaugh have agreed to a new five-year contract that “alters the terms and length of the deal signed last January by an additional season.”

It doesn’t say how those terms were altered except that the extension with four years left on it is now back up to five. Likely we’ll have a few averaged numbers released in the coming days and then the full details when someone (not I, said the Seth) gets a Freedom of Information Act request fulfilled.

Presumably it includes more guaranteed money for Harbaugh and his assistants, stronger buyout terms to shoo away the NFL, and buyout terms for Harbaugh that would make it harder for Michigan to cut ties if his program falls back to where it was a year ago.

Harbaugh signed a low, incentive-laden extension last year that gave the school an out if Michigan had another season as disappointing as their 2020 campaign. One 42-27 win over Ohio State, Big Ten Championship, CFP appearance, and National Coach of the Year award later, Harbaugh was due a contract that recognized those as more than (unlikely) goals, even if he did donate all his 2021 bonuses back to athletic department employees.

Harbaugh also spent a second offseason looking for NFL jobs, and this time made it pretty clear he had interest. Rumors surfaced last month that Harbaugh was open to listening to NFL offers, with interest in the Las Vegas Raiders position swirling first, and the NFL dalliance finally ending with an interview with the Vikings that few back home thought Harbaugh would be returning from.

But return he did. In announcing his plans, Harbaugh also reportedly told AD Warde Manuel this will not be a reoccurring thing, and reiterated that in an interview with Mitch Albom for the Detroit Free Press. Promises to Mitch Albom, however, are not legally binding, and Michigan was expected to work out a deal with their head coach that would make his commitment clear for the administrators, fans, players, and prospective recruits who kind need to know that.

Comments

Seth

February 16th, 2022 at 5:40 PM ^

More on the terms from 247's Zach Shaw (free article):

Though financial terms of the new deal were not disclosed, The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb reported earlier this week that the terms discussed with Harbaugh were in the neighborhood of Ryan Day’s salary ($7.6 million per year) but with high incentives that could push him north of $9 million.

Another number to watch will be the buyout for Harbaugh to take an NFL job, as that figure could make a statement on how committed Harbaugh is to the Wolverines in the long-run. The buyout for this current year was just $2 million owed to Michigan if he left.

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umfan83

February 16th, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^

As someone who stood firmly in JH's corner and only wavered slightly for the first time when they lost to Michigan State last year, I am thrilled at the news even if it was a formality.

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JonnyHintz

February 16th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^

Would have liked to see a longer term on the deal to really send a message of commitment. 1 year longer than his previous deal doesn’t really do that and it’ll come down to the unreleased terms to really show anything.
 

After Harbaugh’s flirtation with the NFL, It’s all about optics.

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JonnyHintz

February 16th, 2022 at 6:45 PM ^

Doesn’t have to be Tucker/Franklin. Especially considering how crippling those are to the school. Those were incredibly one sided deals that benefit the coaches and hold the schools over a barrel. 
 

But optically, a 10 year, $75 million dollar contract with incentives that bring the deal up above $9 million in a year with high buyouts on both ends for the first few years that gradually decrease in the later years of the contract sends a major message of commitment. 
 

a message that we don’t really get from an extension with unreleased details that is only 1 year longer than the deal he’s currently operating under. I’m sure the deal will be a good one for both sides, but this is an opportunity to really send a message that Harbaugh is here to stay.
 

Again, it’s all about optics here. The narrative is that Harbaugh doesn’t want to be here and prefers to be in the NFL. That’s what the media is peddling, that’s what rival fans are peddling, and you’re damn sure that’s what other coaches are telling recruits. The contract is an opportunity to put that to bed. 

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newtopos

February 16th, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^

I agree -- that would have been preferable.  But from some of the information that has leaked, it sounds like UM has tried to keep this a budget-focused extension, including to the extent that the original offer was quite low (well less than the one originally made to Harbaugh seven years ago).  If I understand correctly, some boosters and Hackett worked to make that original deal happen.  It sounds like that was clearly not the case this time around with Warde.  UM likely saved some money in the short term because Harbaugh doesn't have an agent, but it sure looks like UM is again playing some of the penny wise, pound foolish games that it has historically.   

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JonnyHintz

February 16th, 2022 at 7:31 PM ^

Except Webb is saying it’s similar to Ryan Day ($7.6 per) with incentives taking it north of $9. Literally you’re just looking at length of the deal at that point to send a strong message. 
 

All we hear about Mel Tucker’s deal is the 10 years, $9.5 million. Nobody brings up the fact that he has next to no buyout on his end, so he can still leave whenever with almost no penalty. Make a big splash with Harbaugh’s contract terms and then structure the buyouts in a way that benefits the school in the long run. Heavy buyouts the first few years, then as Harbaugh advances in age and becomes less of an option for the NFL, the buyouts decrease so UM can get out if results don’t follow. 
 

If Harbaugh is truly committed to Michigan, he should have no issue with those terms. By the time the buyouts decrease, he could plausibly “retire” to save face if the results aren’t there. There are simple ways to structure this and still get the desired results from a PR perspective. 

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pinkfloyd2000

February 17th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^

A whirlwind of emotions/reactions from all fanbases, eh?

OSU fans prior to 11/27: LOL HARBAUGH IS 0-5 vs US; KEEP HARBAUGH FOREVER

OSU fans a month later: LOL HARBAUGH IS 1-5 vs US, AND YOU'RE GONNA LOSE YOUR COACH TO THE NFL HAHAHAHAHAHA

OSU fans now: LOL HARBAUGH IS 1-5 AGAINST US; KEEP HARBAUGH FOREVER

 

 

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