Harbaugh Considered Coaching Kansas

Submitted by winterblue75 on

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/now-at-michigan-jim-harb…

 

"There was some discussion [with Kansas]," Harbaugh admitted back in 2014.

 

"It was done," a source close to the situation told CBS Sports.

It was also 2009. Then-Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins was looking for a coach to replace Mark Mangino. Harbaugh was at the end of his third season at Stanford. The Cardinal were on their way to an 8-5 season.

"It was close, very close," Perkins said.

 

MGoBoard

MichiganExile

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:25 PM ^

If anybody could win at Kansas it would be the guy that turned Stanford into a national power. 

Honestly though what would the upshot have been for Harbaugh at the time? In 2009 he knew what he had at Stanford and was about to unleash in 2010. Starting an entirely new rebuilding job at another perennial craphouse makes no sense. 

Joined: 01/12/2009

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Sambojangles

November 22nd, 2016 at 5:35 PM ^

Kansas was only two seasons removed from the 12-1, Orange Bowl winning 2007 season. It wouldn't have been a total rebuild. They started 5-0 in 2009 before losing the last 7. 

Fun fact I had forgotten until I read the Kansas football Wikipedia page: Fielding Yost was coach there for the 1899 season, before his 1900 season at Stanford, and of course coming to Michigan in 1901.

Joined: 12/15/2008

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I Love Lamp

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^

I wanted to get back in the game, and I almost lowered my standards and slept with the not so desirable girl I worked with. I told myself, patience, good things happen to those that wait. I ended up a little while later with a better catch.

Joined: 07/15/2014

MGoPoints: 8306

ThatTCGuy

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:31 PM ^

I have nothing against Kansas, but why would you ever leave Stanford to go there? Stanford may be academically rigid, but at least it's in an area with a lot of good recruits to pick from. Kansas has very few recruits to choose from, you have to compete with Bill Snyder and Bob Stoops and Mack Brown (at that time) for every single guy you get, and you'll always play second fiddle at Kansas to Bill Self and what he's doing with the basketball program,

Joined: 01/20/2015

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Leaders And Best

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^

The main selling point was because a lot of his wife's family is based out of Kansas City, and he has become very close to them. The most interesting nugget is that his brother-in-law flies to every game to be with Harbaugh.

I actually think this article strengthens my belief that Harbaugh could be at Michigan for a long time. Family was so important that he almost took one of the worst jobs in the Power 5.

Joined: 09/09/2009

MGoPoints: 22312

ScruffyTheJanitor

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:33 PM ^

Methinks Ann Arbor has a similar appeal.... plus memories of his own childhood... plus one of the premier jobs in all of Football... yeah, Harbaugh back to the NFL. Yup. Gonna happen. Two years, max. 

/Eyes roll so hard they fall out of his head. 

Any man that would consider F'n  KANSAS because of family has a different set of priorities than just chasing the best job. 

Joined: 02/03/2011

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Leaders And Best

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:40 PM ^

Good to see Dennis Dodd still pushing this line of BS.

A handful? Harbaugh has lasted no more than four seasons in any of his head coaching jobs. Any mention that he might not spend the rest of his career at Michigan brings a howl of protest by its fans.

Quick note to Wolverines everywhere: The NFL still is more prestigious. There is no guarantee anytime, anywhere that Harbaugh is a lifer in Ann Arbor.

For proof, please refer to that alternate universe. Just be glad Harbaugh never went to Kansas. Maybe star athletes and celebrities would have gone there for National Signing Day. Maybe the satellite camp controversy starts in Lawrence.

Harbaugh's career acsension lines up with most talented coaches who move up the ladder. Urban Meyer spent 2 years at Bowling Green and Utah each before landing at Florida, but no one uses this shit on him. Nick Saban spent 1 year at Toledo, 5 years at MSU, 5 years at LSU, and 2 years at the Miami Dolphins before ending up at Alabama. I think people are starting to see now that the 49ers situation had more to do with the toxic front office than Harbaugh.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2015/10/06/maybe-weve-looked-at-this-all-wrong-maybe-jim-harbaugh-lasting-4-years-under-the-yorks-was-an-incredible-feat-of-coaching-endurance/

Some people still can't fathom that a coach in demand would ever choose college football over the NFL.

Dodd should stick to divorced MILF twitter accounts.

Joined: 09/09/2009

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dipshit moron

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:37 PM ^

not one bit of that makes since. no one can win at kansas, he has no ties there and harbaugh would not have taken a step back at that time. stupid made up story.

Joined: 07/04/2008

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ElBictors

November 22nd, 2016 at 4:44 PM ^

The ties to Kansas run through Sarah Harbaugh and Bill Self personally contacted Harbaugh about the gig ....idea being KU hoops is iconic and a strong football team would make an athletic powerhouse in the B12. At the time heard a TON of money - the 'world' - was offered but in the end, it was KU and more a project than Harbaugh was really interested in. I was dismissive when I first heard too and would completely disagree with the assertion 'it was done' ....but a pitch was made and 'KU was in play.' Just not for very long

Joined: 03/27/2015

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dipshit moron

November 22nd, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

if those are ties then harbaugh has ties to hundreds of pro and college teams. i mean the university itself and area. a coach like harbaugh doesnt consider a job just because someone he may know talks to him about it.

Joined: 07/04/2008

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ElBictors

November 22nd, 2016 at 5:37 PM ^

No, the reply saying Harbaugh has no ties to KU, therefore implausible he'd go there (in 2010), is inaccurate. So is being sarcastic about some 6-degrees of Kevin Bacon ties to programs theory. KU pulled out all the stops and made its pitch and was turned down. It was also a few yrs ago when KU had been decent briefly and it wasn't so crazy that a guy like Harbaugh ....back then! ...might consider it, given his family situation.

Joined: 03/27/2015

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