Michigan Hires Mike Hart As Running Backs Coach
Michigan's all-time leading rusher and one of the better assistant coaches in the Big Ten is coming home. Mike Hart, who's served as Indiana's running backs coach since 2017 and added an associate head coach title in 2020, will join Jim Harbaugh's staff as running backs coach, as first reported by Jamie Morris and quickly confirmed by the program itself:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday (Jan. 13) the hiring of former Wolverine running back Mike Hart as the program's running back mentor. The all-time leading rusher in Michigan football history, Hart has been the running backs coach at Indiana University for the past four seasons (2017-20). He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020 after serving as the Hoosiers' assistant coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
"I am excited about the addition of Mike Hart to our offensive coaching staff," said Harbaugh. "Mike is a great coach and Michigan Man who has shown the ability to develop and elevate the performance of the running backs that he has mentored. We look forward to welcoming Mike, Monique and their children to the Michigan Football family."
"Michigan has always held a special place in my heart," said Hart. "It is a place that always believed in me and a place that I have always have believed in. I am excited to join Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan staff, and can't wait to get to work with a talented running back group."
In his 10 seasons as a coach, Hart has tutored four 1,000-yard rushers, two Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year recipients and the 2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jarvion Franklin.
As a member of the Indiana coaching staff, Hart was a 2018 Broyles Award nominee and received recognition as a Top 25 recruiter by Rivals.com for his work on the 2019 signing class.
Hart has been instrumental in the development of Indiana's running game, with the program gaining 1,888 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018. IU followed up by producing 1,695 yards and 24 TDs in 2019. The Hoosiers gained 869 yards and scored 12 TDs during the shortened 2020 campaign.
Hart developed Stevie Scott into an all-conference performer with the tailback earning second team All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons (2019-20) after collecting honorable mention honors as a freshman.
Before we proceed further, this is mandatory viewing:
Excellent. With that out of the way, this is a universally lauded hire for Harbaugh, and for good reason. Hart's track record as a developer of running backs and recruiter is strong given the talent one can land at Indiana, Syracuse, and directional Michigan schools. Hart got the most out of his physical ability as a player and he should help Michigan's very talented backs do the same.
The addition of Hart to the coaching staff means Jay Harbaugh will move full-time to special teams, according to Sam Webb. It also provides a spark of excitement for a program that really needs it.
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January 13th, 2021 at 6:12 PM ^
Dantonio angry press conference to be announced shortly.
(In seriousness, I am cautiously optimistic/excited about this. I was also excited about Tyrone Wheatley as RB coach and, well...)
January 13th, 2021 at 9:03 PM ^
Wheat was outstanding. It's just that he and Jim didn't mesh and he had more lofty goals anyway.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:12 PM ^
He is an outstanding coach and a shame about his son because he could ball but, is what it is.
January 14th, 2021 at 7:54 AM ^
Love Wheatley. Great ambassador for the university with the way he handles his business. His son was not a baller, at least at the D-1 level.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:12 PM ^
Can he bring Nick with him?
January 13th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
This fills up the offensive staff I believe. Welcome back Coach Hart (as a guy who was 10 when he was a freshman, the urge to call him Mike is great lol)
January 13th, 2021 at 6:15 PM ^
Can not love this any more. Welcome home Mike Hart
January 13th, 2021 at 6:16 PM ^
Barry Sanders, but slow, said Fred Jackson while off his meds.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:02 PM ^
Definitely accurate but with different styles. You'd see Sanders legs widen often and he could change direction so fast. Hart almost had this wobble it seemed. Even now watching his highlights again he doesn't really look impressive physically, but his body control and balance was just amazing. It always kind of reminded me of some drunken fighting style, always a bit wobbly and could just dodge and weave without looking like he was putting much effort into it.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
I’ll never forget when Hart was heading up the sideline with that tremendous balance you mention and then had the wherewithal to TRUCK a linebacker who thought he had the angle to make the tackle. It was a MAC team, maybe Ball St. or Bowling Green? Vicious hit from a running back with the ball.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Mike Hart had every tool in the box except straight line speed. If he had been a burner he would have won three Heismans and been the #1 overall pick. Perhaps my favorite Wolverine every and certainly the best RB since I've been a fan. Only Fitz has been within shouting range in the season before he got hurt
January 13th, 2021 at 6:17 PM ^
AND was named Head Coach In Waiting?
(A guy can dream, right?)
January 13th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
That's a pretty safe bet, especially if Warde outlasts Harbaugh. Michigan Men stick together.
January 15th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
Really? We're ready to hand the keys to the Program over to a guy who has never been a head coach at any NCAA program, nevermind a top tier Power 5 school?
This hire certainly seems like a solid one, but the only scenario where I want to see Mike Hart take the reins from Jim Harbaugh is when he retires 15-20 years from now after accruing numerous conference championships and a couple of CFP appearances. If Harbaugh flames out over the next few seasons, then the last guy we should be turning to is Mike Hart.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
I feel like an actual Mike Hart tribute video would be nothing but two yard runs where he was contacted behind the line of scrimmage but ground something out anyway. Hart saved an unfathomable amount of yardage the way he finished runs, especially the "bad" ones.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:51 PM ^
One of the plays from Braylonfest in the tribute video is the epitome of that: Mallett gets strip sacked for what would be a back breaking fumble, but Hart not only recovers it but breaks tackles on the way to a first down
January 13th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
Mallet was in high school for Braylonfest; you're thinking of the 2007 game.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
I always think of the 2007 Spring Game when I think of Mallett.
Mallett ran in for a score and did a bit of showboating. Apparently Jake Long made a cool but serious comment to him about dialing it down. Mallett responded with something to the effect of "Okay, Jake, just don't hurt me!"
January 14th, 2021 at 11:33 AM ^
I was in a bar in East Lansing watching it after tailgaiting. That play was such a confusing play, because it didn't make sense how Hart had the ball. Turning a sack and fumble into a rumbling first down, yeehaw. He is such a fun back to go back and watch.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:36 PM ^
That’s how i feel about Haskins. Hart will love him.
January 14th, 2021 at 6:47 AM ^
"Hassan Haskins is Mike Hart, but bigger and faster."
Fred Jackson
January 13th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
1. The article's exact wording is "Running Backs Mentor" (that phrasing is used twice) and 2. Doesn't mention Jay changing positions
...are we going to have 2 people for RBs or am I over-analysing a press release?
January 13th, 2021 at 6:26 PM ^
*Asks self*
"Self. Is it OK to bust out your old #20 Mike Hart jersey, and wear it?"
HELL YEAH! Go Blue! ? ? ? ?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:45 PM ^
Thanks for clarifying. Got one in the back of the closet.
January 14th, 2021 at 11:34 AM ^
If Lions fans can still wear 20, then Michigan fans can too. Nothing like still representing the best.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:27 PM ^
I'm a fan of this hire, but I guess I don't really understand it from Hart's perspective? Indiana is primed to have another huge year next year since they return almost everyone, including their RB Scott. Tom Allen has pretty much the most secure job in the conference, save Fitzgerald or Day. Meanwhile Harbaugh just signed a contract solely designed to make it easier to fire him in the near future. Next, Hart was their RB coach and associate HC, so he's taking a step down to just RB coach. I'm assuming he'll make more money, but I'm really surprised he chose now to make the move. I'm obviously cheering for him to succeed, but I'm nervous that the whole staff might be out of a job this time next year, including Hart. I hope I'm wrong though
January 13th, 2021 at 6:50 PM ^
It is a money move for sure (aren’t all things really?) but he probably sees better upward mobility at Michigan and at the end of the day it is “home”.
If M greatly improves and Jim stays there is a good chance Gattis gets hired away putting Mike in line for an OC position. (He had the nice title for sure at IU but kinda got hopped by Sheridan on the offensive staff.).
If Harbaugh fails and “leaves” who would be the #1 assistant for the new HC to keep on staff and/or promote that keeps all the factions happy?.....
January 13th, 2021 at 7:24 PM ^
I do think he could be retained if Harbaugh is gone next year, but that still seems like a crazy thing to bank on for Hart
I'm grateful he's home, I just really hope he doesn't regret it
January 13th, 2021 at 7:38 PM ^
You are reading far too much into one pandemic-affected season. IU had a nice little team this year but no sane person would consider it a better job than Michigan.
January 14th, 2021 at 12:51 AM ^
Well maybe a LOT of milk can affect one's sanity?
January 13th, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
He’s a really good coach. He’s going to his favorite school. He said 20+ years ago that his dream was to coach Michigan. It’s a solid step to that dream.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
In the words of Bear Bryant: "Mama called."
January 13th, 2021 at 7:03 PM ^
Tom Allen has job security, but he's more likely to be gone from Indiana 12 months from now, than Harbaugh from UM.
If he helps produce the best RB since himself, a big promotion awaits.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:23 PM ^
Are we certain about that? He's an Indiana grad and I haven't heard any noise of teams going after Allen
January 14th, 2021 at 1:01 AM ^
Milk, how many more times are you going to post, in the comments thread of an article about Mike Hart returning to Michigan, that you're worried about his job security before he even starts, and questioning the wisdom of the Michigan All-American & career leading rusher in leaving Indi-fucking-ana to return to Michigan?!
Because I read your chiming in to debate Allen's future at IU as another attempt?!
Are you just completely devoid of any perspective that extends either forward or backwards from 2020, or just so debilitatingly injured by the COVID shortened season that you're no longer able to conceive of a successful future for Michigan football?!
January 13th, 2021 at 8:09 PM ^
I don't agree with that at all. I could easily see Tom Allen as a lifer there. He seems like a Fitzgerald type, and he's from Indiana. He has 0 chance of being fired after next season even if they're bad. He also doesn't seem like a guy who top teams are going to be clamoring for unless he made the playoffs or something next year, which I would be totally shocked by. You think USC is going to hire him if Helton has a bad year and gets fired? Meanwhile Harbaugh almost got fired this year and the defense is almost surely going to be OK at best next year. If the offense remains incoherent as well, he's gone.
January 14th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
Assumes facts not in evidence. 1). JH almost fired this year? Based on anything beyond your reading MGOBLOG posters? AD & Michigan Admin was not firing JH. He was going nowhere. 2). JH fired next year? Baring complete collapse or scandal, wishful thinking of raging sheep.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:25 PM ^
My guess is that this has been his dream from the day he started coaching... to coach at Michigan (could be wrong but thought he’s also said his ambition to be head coach here some day but could be wrong). He bleeds blue and it’s likely painful to watch your Alma Mater struggle. He knows he can help. His mindset and determination will be welcomed. Glad to have him back!
January 13th, 2021 at 8:01 PM ^
I tend to agree with this. I think he is happy to come back and if it means better pay that helps as well. I also see this as good timing because I feel if he does a good job he has a big chance to move up the ladder to bigger and better things. IU had a good offense and I am sure that can help with scheming and such with Gattis.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:17 PM ^
There's almost always at least one "continuity" coach held over from one staff to the next when there is a coaching change (think Fred Jackson, Greg Mattison). I imagine to help the new staff get familiar with the players and the locker room culture. It's easy to see Hart landing that role if Harbaugh were to be let go. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it was included in his contract.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
I can't believe I'm about to quote Brady Hoke, but... "This is Michigan."
Not only is it Michigan, it's Mike Hart's Michigan. The only strange part of this situation is the fact that anyone would question why MIKE FREAKING HART would want to move from Indiana to Michigan.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:05 AM ^
COVID's affects are many & unpreditable. The only rationale i can think of ?♂️
January 14th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
I think we are all underestimating the effect Covid protocols had on some teams for this year. This was a very young team without any real full practices. Teams like Indiana were fairly veteran where it mattered and had good years.
Don't get me wrong, MSU was still a debacle, and many other teams handled it better than we did. But I think Michigan is a lot better than this year showed. Especially if we can see improvement on defense.
January 14th, 2021 at 9:37 PM ^
He probably sees Tom Allen just as likely to leave IU.. but for a better job.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:29 PM ^
Harbaughs best move since he’s been at Michigan, and Hart walks into an absolute stacked RB room next year? I’ll take it.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
Holy shit. This is big. I didn't think he would leave Indiana the way that program is rising, especially for a lateral move.
Things are lining up to beat the Buckeyes next year, we have a QB and they will have a new one
January 13th, 2021 at 7:26 PM ^
It’s big but I think Harbaugh and Hart are going to buttheads. Two strong personalities generally don’t workout.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:49 PM ^
JH could use some head butts
January 13th, 2021 at 7:50 PM ^
Harbaugh needs to have someone who will butt heads with him...seriously, he does.
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