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our next photo of him won't feature nearly as much red [Patrick Barron]

Michigan Hires Mike Hart As Running Backs Coach Comment Count

Ace January 13th, 2021 at 6:10 PM

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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Comments

snarling wolverine

January 13th, 2021 at 7:14 PM ^

While his recruiting chops at IU are a positive, that’s not exactly an area where we were hurting to begin with as Jay has done a great job bringing in top ranked backs

It never hurts to have more good recruiters on the staff.  Do you think Jay can only recruit running backs?

As for the rushing stats, how much of that falls on the RB coach?  What if they had terrible blocking, or a so-so scheme?

Joined: 12/14/2011

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JonnyHintz

January 13th, 2021 at 8:00 PM ^

There are an awful lot of teams with bad blocking and bad schemes that finish way higher than Indiana in rushing in this conference. We’re only two years removed from Illi-freaking-nois having the  2nd best rushing attack in the conference at 6 yards per carry. Northwestern had one of the worst offenses in the COUNTRY in 2019 and still had a better rushing attack than Indiana. 
 

I also never said Jay could only recruit running backs. However, players typically want to be recruited by their positions coach. That’s the guy they’ll have the most interaction with in their time at the school. So you’re severely handicapping Jay’s positive recruiting ability by sticking him at special teams, where he’ll have to pass off all of the recruits he goes after to their respective positions coaches. No top WR is going to be recruited by a special teams coach. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

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Jordan2323

January 13th, 2021 at 9:38 PM ^

I disagree about handicapping Jay. One, he’s established himself as a good recruiter and has entrenched himself well within a lot of high school programs. Two, he’s not gonna pass a lot of them off to other coaches because a lot of younger kids play special teams anyway. Three, he recruits them to the University of Michigan for the reasons they should want to come to Michigan. We also add Hart, so that’s a plus one on the recruiting front. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

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DrAwkward

January 13th, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^

Am I the only one who remembers Mike Hart in 2007 telling Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh that he would never coach at Michigan?

Even so, I love this hire.  Mike Hart is one of my favorite Wolverines ever.  I have followed his career every year since he enrolled at Michigan.

Joined: 03/22/2012

MGoPoints: 3987

mgoblue0970

January 13th, 2021 at 10:38 PM ^

I don’t remember anything being mentioned about coaching

This was the 'coaching' quote from Hart:

“That’s a guy I have no respect for,” Hart said. “You graduate from the University of Michigan, and you’re going to talk about your school like that, a great university like we have? To say that we’re not true student-athletes? I don’t know if maybe he wants to coach here and he’s mad because he didn’t get a job.”

https://mvictors.com/carr-hart-fire-back-at-harbaugh/

Joined: 11/22/2008

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MGoStrength

January 13th, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^

Said this in one of the other Hart threads...happy to have him where he belongs, but I'm concerned how much this really helps the offensive system with Gattis and play calling.  Certainly he's a UM guy and a great coach.  I'm just worried he isn't what's needed.  Jay has already done well with the RBs.  The RBs aren't the problem.  The OC is the problem.  Hart was not the OC, he was the RB coach and associate HC, but Sheridan & Heard were the OCs.  I don't know how much Hart was involved in the scheme and play calling or how much he will help Gattis.  I just hope Hart is not a one and done when JH gets canned in 2021.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

jmblue

January 13th, 2021 at 7:30 PM ^

Hiring a RB coach isn't about changing your offensive system.  It's more about adding another quality recruiter to the staff. 

It's also a kick in the teeth to Indiana right when they were trying to claim big-boy status.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102947

MGoStrength

January 13th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^

Hiring a RB coach isn't about changing your offensive system.  It's more about adding another quality recruiter to the staff. 

Are you sure?  If that's the case why were we courting Moorhead?

It's also a kick in the teeth to Indiana right when they were trying to claim big-boy status.

Well, they took Carpenter from UM so I'm not so sure we're succeeding there.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

jmblue

January 13th, 2021 at 9:38 PM ^

I'm not saying every hire is about recruiting.   Moorhead, if he came, would be our OC.

But this one is.  It's not that hard to find a competent RB coach.  Jay Harbaugh was doing a fine enough job.  But this gives us another strong recruiter on the staff.

It's a blow to Indiana.  Hart was a big name for them to have on staff and landed some nice recruits.  

Joined: 11/07/2008

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MGoStrength

January 14th, 2021 at 8:02 AM ^

I hear ya, I love that we've finally brought him home, I'm just saying if you look at the overall staff we don't need more recruiting at RB.  Jay landed Charbonnet, Corum, & Edwards in the last 3 years.  What we need is someone to figure out the offensive scheme and play calling into something that makes sense, is efficient, gives an identity, and actually works to consistently score points.  I love Mike and am glad he's finally home.  I'm just concerned we haven't fixed the offensive issues and now have no room to bring anyone else in to help.  I'm not confident what didn't work in 2019 or 2020 will magically work in 2021.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

tivoman

January 13th, 2021 at 7:13 PM ^

You have to love a guy whose career highlight reel is mostly a series of 12 yard runs.

If he can get players to show the fire that he had as a player, this is an excellent hire.

Joined: 08/11/2009

MGoPoints: 27

Blue Vet

January 13th, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^

Repeating my personal Mike Hart story from elhead's Board post:

Back in the day, I'd heard Michigan had recruited this guy named Mike Hart but I was dubious. He was small, and had played against unimpressive competition, in a state not known for its high school football.

However, visiting Syracuse, I got talking sports with a guy at the University and he was gushing about Hart. His comments felt like more than local pride, and by the time I left, I was convinced that this kid might be good.

I had no idea though he'd be great.

Joined: 05/08/2012

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ERdocLSA2004

January 13th, 2021 at 8:04 PM ^

I have no idea how this will turn out.  I do know this: no one will bring more passion and energy to this program than Mike Hart.  I also know that he is an absolutely awesome role model for young men.  A persons childhood doesn’t get much more difficult than Mike’s.  He became a man and took care of his family way before any child should have to.  I can’t think of a better mentor for football and for life!

Joined: 01/08/2011

MGoPoints: 16145

Jordan2323

January 13th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^

I love that the staff looks to be adding some youth and diversity to the staff. This should help us recruit much better. Hart, Gattis, Moore, Jean-Mary, hopefully a 33 year old MacDonald would all recruit really well. That’s not even mentioning who the backfield coaches will be. Haven’t paid attention to Warriners recruiting but his coaching is excellent. This is an excellent hire. 

Joined: 11/09/2013

MGoPoints: 48927

Sultans17

January 13th, 2021 at 8:16 PM ^

I was trying to get autographs before the spring game 2006. The players used to walk from Schembechler Hall to the tunnel entrance and you could usually talk a few into signing. I really wanted Steve Breaston's autograph, had even purchased  a #15 jersey for him to sign. The problem was the players didn't wear their jerseys for that walk, so you had to recognize them and ask nicely. I saw Breaston approaching with several others, including Kevin Grady and some kids who were clearly family members. Breaston didn't make eye contact so I asked one of the little siblings for an autograph, hoping he would blush, not sign and give the jersey to Breaston. Instead the little twerp (he had to be no older than 12) signed it!  "Oh well," I figured, "no one will notice one non player if I get Breaston, Grady and a few others," which I  did.  Only later did I see that little kid's signature. Mike Hart, #20. How ironic that the only time I met Mike Hart I thought he was a little brother. Welcome home, Coach Hart!

Joined: 06/04/2020

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UM Indy

January 13th, 2021 at 8:27 PM ^

Mike subscribed to a famous saying from the old man in my picture, John Heisman: “Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football.” 

Joined: 03/05/2009

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DeepBlueC

January 13th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^

Hart's a good guy and a good position coach, but tweaks like this aren't going to change anything for the program. Harbaugh has hit his ceiling and bounced off it, and no amount of shuffling assistants will take this program beyond 9-3ism as long as Harbaugh is in charge.

Joined: 03/08/2018

MGoPoints: 1431

MGoWorld

January 13th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^

The video reinforces the validity and value of the screen game.  Bama runs it with great success today.  How is not a more prominent part of the Harbaugh/Gattis offensive repertoire?  

Joined: 06/20/2013

MGoPoints: 151

tybert

January 13th, 2021 at 8:54 PM ^

I love this hire - if we had hired Mike years ago before he had some years under his belt, it would have been a stretch hire. Even if IU didn't have some great rushing stats, they are a spread offense team that mixes in run and pass.

Recruiting will be a plus too.

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 8529

N. Campus Tech

January 13th, 2021 at 8:57 PM ^

I hope when Harbaugh is fired after another disappointing season, that the next coach retains Mike Hart. He seems like a good coach and a great guy. I wish him best of luck in the toxic Michigan locker room. 

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