Details of Harbaugh’s contract
January 8th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
As expected, a lot of his incentives are based on winning which is appropriate
January 8th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
He took a 50% paycut has anybody had a contract extension like this? It's almost like it was an obligatory contract hoping Jim would find a new job...I truly believe Harbaugh's agent did not tell JH anything optimistic regarding NFL interest.
I don't believe for a second Harbaugh took a $4M paycut with his ego and, coincidentally, waited until the end of black Monday week to sign the contract. If there was an NFL team who was interested in him does anyone think he wouldn't have been interviewing? He wait until this week to gauge interest and there apparently was none.
I would bet Brian's beard that WM was disappointed Harbaugh signed it.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^
He has said he doesn't have an agent.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:24 PM ^
He doesn’t.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:27 PM ^
He has an attorney I'm sure stuff is funneled through him but the point is this doesn't sound like the phone was ringing regardless of who answered it
January 8th, 2021 at 6:28 PM ^
Very unusual indeed. I don't think he's happy about it, hence why it took so long to sign. I think all were hoping he'd find an NFL job. I can only assume there was not interest in him. The question then becomes, why bother? I think all parties are in for a really shitty year before JH is fired in 2021. Why would UM be willing to do that over supposedly not having to fire it's beloved son? As if that won't happen in 2021. Seems like a guarantee for a really distasteful relationship in the future. You can't take paycuts for poor performance. Either you get a raise or you get fired. That's how it works.
January 9th, 2021 at 12:57 AM ^
I agree with you, except that this contract is absolutely 100% in favor of Harbaugh. It does nothing to help our football program for exactly the reasons you specified.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:03 PM ^
Why the hell did he sign it than?
He had a guaranteed $10 million coming with his old contract.
If he wanted to go to the NFL the buyout wouldn't matter since only his would need to be paid. And the team signing him usually does.
The only way any of this matters is if UofM had a "better" candidate for coach but obviously didn't have anyone like that interested.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:24 PM ^
Harbaugh was hoping that an NFL team would chose him but he was way down the list on 2 teams and even the Lions didn't have Harbaugh on the list. May be now that Harbaugh's NFL dreams have ended he will put more effort into our program again, especially with all the incentives dangling in front of him. It seems like after the 2017 season Harbaugh had the NFL on his mind and did not work as hard to keep building up the team.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:26 PM ^
Prove that speculative bullshit.
January 8th, 2021 at 5:33 PM ^
I’m not happy he was given a new deal but the contract in and of itself seems extremely fair for both parties.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:04 PM ^
Agree on both accounts.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
Agreed, and, unfortunately, this was probably the best move for Warde.
Unless you are convinced that Matt Campbell, Luke Fickell, or someone else is the savior, getting Harbaugh back at bargain prices with a reasonable buyout was a good move. Especially when politicians and citizens of the state would have been in an uproar (I'm looking at you, Texas) if Michigan had fired him, especially if the next coach wasn't a homerun.
Let's hope he builds an amazing staff and becomes the JH we all thought he could be, and almost was in 2016.
Time to start pulling together for Michigan.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:06 PM ^
The bright side is Campbell and Fickell will still be available next season if Michigan doesn't turn it around
January 9th, 2021 at 1:05 AM ^
This may have been the best move for Warde, but I’m sorry I just don’t see how this is anything but the worst move for the future of our football program.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:58 PM ^
Compensation should stay on the low side since he can't accomplish six of the incentives. APR and NY6 are the only two attainable for him.
January 8th, 2021 at 5:34 PM ^
Well there’s 2.5m he won’t be getting each year
January 8th, 2021 at 5:43 PM ^
Speaking of each year, is this a contract extension meaning next year is under the term aof the existing (old) contract or does year 1 of the schedule replace what JH was supposed to make next year?
January 8th, 2021 at 5:50 PM ^
New contract supersedes old contract (goes into effect on Monday) and extension is therefore only until 2025
January 8th, 2021 at 5:51 PM ^
Everyone is reporting that the extension is through 2025, so contract year 1 of 5 must be this fall.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:35 PM ^
If I understand this correctly, one of two things happen:
1. Michigan has a miracle season, Jim makes a bunch of bonuses and is in position to either renegotiate or leave for another good job buttressed by a very good season at Michigan; or unfortunately;
2. Michigan has at best a decent season and buys out Harbaugh and he makes $8,000,000.
Basically from Jim’s side he’s traded $2 million from his $10,000,000 buyout to make $8,000,000 next year and giving himself a chance to be looking for a new job coming off a winning season.
From Warde’s side, he traded having to pay $10,0000,000 to Harbaugh plus probably north of $6,000,000 for a new coaches salary next year. So he saved $8,000,000 but created a much lengthier transition period that will likely crater recruiting next year. That may be worth it if he thinks he can get a much better hire next year than this year.
January 9th, 2021 at 1:15 AM ^
$8 million is peanuts. Warde won’t save a dime. There is no excitement around this program. Viewership will be down, both on TV and in person, merchandise will be down, etc. Dragging out this transition another year will cost millions in lost revenue AND having to pay (insert hot coaching candidate here) that much more one year from now. Not to mention the buyouts on whatever new assistants we bring in this year and then have to buy them out next year. Option 1 is the only way this makes sense, and that’s a helluva long shot.
January 8th, 2021 at 5:56 PM ^
CFP Champs: Tough for anyone but basically 2-3 coaches.
CFP Semifinal: I think he gets at least 1 during this contract.
B1G Champs: Same.
B1G East outright: Might be just as touch as either above.
I'd be willing to bet he gets the $2M bonus at least once in this contract.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:09 PM ^
I sure hope so but not so optimistic.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
I bet you $100 he doesn’t get any of those 4 in the next 5 years.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:44 PM ^
I think the much more likely scenario is that he is fired after next season.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^
I’ll take that bet.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:38 PM ^
You are out of your mind. Do those contract numbers suggest that either side expects this to be a success?
January 8th, 2021 at 5:35 PM ^
Huge paycut - I admire his humility and hope he achieves his goals at Michigan
January 8th, 2021 at 5:54 PM ^
Agreed, but I suspect this will make negative recruiting even easier.
Just think of what competing coaches must be saying: "Harbaugh is on his third OC, just fired his DC, and had to take a performance-based pay cut after searching for an NFL job. Why would you trust that program to take you to the next level?"
If you're the Michigan staff, how do you respond?
January 8th, 2021 at 5:55 PM ^
This is a hypothetical for sure, but I guess I might say: wow that other coach is really obsessed with our coaching staff! Maybe they should focus on their own coaching staff and players. We are focused on developing players into men, pursuing championships, and helping players reach the NFL and their other professional aspirations.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:05 PM ^
I mean, you'd probably ignore it/downplay how relevant it is (as noted above). I'd also like to point out that you can negatively recruit against most teams in this conference not named OSU pretty easily, so I do wonder who really does it with any gusto. Like, if PSU is really the big culprit like they apparently were a couple years ago I'd point out they're on their 3rd OC in 4 years and may lose their co-DC to UM.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
Or, could mean we are in global pandemic and economic downturn so we can’t justify status quo with us laying off and eliminating positions in the athletic department. Hence the lower salary and buyout. ?♂️
January 8th, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
It could make negative recruiting harder.
1. They've already been saying Harbaugh was going back to the NFL asap.
2. Harbaugh can tell recruits he wanted a contract based on incentives, because he has that much confidence in his players. He's betting on them and his staff to prove him right and he finds it energizing.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:10 PM ^
What were his other options? He waited for the NFL to come calling and that didn't work out. If he stays his final year and doesn't sign a new contract no talented recruit would even consider us. Signing this contract was very likely his only option. I'm not seeing the humility.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:23 PM ^
He had one other very real option: Point to the contract that he signed years ago which guaranteed him one more year at $8 million a year. If the university wanted to violate that contract, he could have forced them to buy him out for more than 8 million. Thankfully, he did not take the arrogant path to stick it to Michigan and maximize his income for next year. He chose the humble path.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:46 PM ^
Exactly right. Harbaugh didnt need to negotiate anything. If this was only about money or lack of NFL interest he could have sat on his $8 million next year and then landed a minimum $4 million/year gig somewhere else after next year.
He didnt take a pay cut because he had no other options. You really think he would have accepted $4 million/year to coach for the Jaguars? He took a deal that was clearly Michigan-friendly because he wanted to stay here.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:18 PM ^
How hard is it to look at this contract and see that if he gets bought out next year he makes at least $8,000,000. That is a one year contract dressed up as a 5 year contract that looks like Harbaugh took a paycut while saving Warde from having to pay out a $10,000,000 buyout for Harbaugh plus a likely buyout for a new coach in the middle of a huge economic downturn.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:38 PM ^
"then landed a minimum $4 million/year gig somewhere else after next year."
Where? If the NFL didn't want him this year, would anyone next year? Maybe but probably not. And he wasn't gonna go get 4 mil at another big P5 job next year. He would have taken a pay cut to go to a school like Iowa State more likely.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^
Harbaugh loves coaching. The only thing Harbaugh knows to do is coach football. There is only one place Harbaugh can coach football this year. That is Michigan. He did not have an opportunity to coach in the NFL.
Knowing this, Michigan said you can coach at Michigan but for $4M not $8M. Harbaugh said yes, because it was the only path he had to do what he wants to do and still make $4M. Seriously, what college would pay him $4M currently given the pandemic?
Let’s not try to portray Harbaugh as some great humble human. He took the path that allowed him to do what he wants to do for the most money.
January 9th, 2021 at 8:55 AM ^
He will get to climb trees and stay over night at recruits houses for at least another year. Really I hope he gets it turned around, but I think it's a long shot.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^
You do realize that if he gets bought out next year, he still makes $8,000,000. Also, if $2,000,000 of his contract was a life insurance policy that doesn’t actually seem to be money in Harbaugh’s pocket, so I think he actually does better next year if he gets bought out than he would have otherwise.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:25 PM ^
This year was 10M I think, so it would net UM. Plus, the amount you didn’t pay another coach (probably around 5-6M). So buy out now and new coach 16M. Getting rid of JH after next 8M. I get pandemic and all, but crazy a school like UM is talking about 8-10M as the problem. Shows me, donors wanted JH to get another year minimum due to covid and this his only extreme train wreck year. UM president and team said we aren’t paying that out of school budget unless we literally have no other option. Thus, here we are on this deal w/ options in for next year.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:02 PM ^
Considering he got PAID a king's ransom the first 6 years - 4th highest paid, I do not admire this "humility". Now, if he gave some of the money back like 25% - 50% back to the AD as a donation, then I would have much more admiration for him.
He was VASTLY overpaid for the results he brought in during these last 6 years and HE and we all know it!
January 8th, 2021 at 5:37 PM ^
How is winning the CFP only worth $1M...I'd bump that up.
January 8th, 2021 at 5:40 PM ^
He'd get all the other incentives as well for a CFP win... so $3.2M. Seems more than fair, lol.
January 8th, 2021 at 5:48 PM ^
Harbaugh will earn a $500,000 bonus if the Wolverines win the Big Ten East Division outright, $1 million if they win the conference title, $200,000 if they play in a NY6 bowl game, $500,000 if they reach the College Football Playoff and $1 million if they win the national title.
January 8th, 2021 at 6:20 PM ^
Not necessarily. We've already seen a non-B1G champ make the playoff.
And if the 2016 team beats Iowa, I would not have been surprised to see 1-loss-in-OT-on-that-BS Michigan get an invite.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
This will never ever happen. Why? Because we’re not the SEC so we’re never going to get that kind of special treatment. If Harbaugh can never beat OSU and get to Indy then I guarantee he’s never making it to the college football playoff.
January 9th, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
Those are such lazy arguments.
1. The playoffs will expand before this contract runs out. That's a much safer prediction than yours.
2. I'm no fan of the SEC, but they've gotten a second team in only one time and that team won the championship. Before I start chanting SEC, let me also point out they're 7-1 in the semi-finals. Where's the special treatment?