Rumor: Harbaugh to be offered $8 million from UM
Edit: The only reason I posted this is to start a discussion on potential compensation. I don't really believe that this ninny has any idea what UM may offer Harbaugh(if it even comes to that).
Edit 2: I deleted the link because the icky feeling I had when I first visited his blog came back with extra intensity. I don't want to give that schmuck anymore clicks than I already did.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
It's extremely rare to get a successful NFL coach to return to college. You could probably count the number of successful young NFL head coaches who 'downgraded' on one hand. Harbaugh was a minute away from a Super Bowl ring. He made Stanford (of all places) nationally relevant. He's been to the NFC Championship game repeatedly. That is, by all metrics, incredible coaching success. And that kind of success doesn't come cheaply.
If Harbaugh is truly interested in the Michigan job, we're going to need to pay him.
December 3rd, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
It's subjective but is Harbaugh that much better of a coach than say a Mark Richt?
Also, yes I want a great head coach but if you don't get good position coaches, coordinators, and S&C people then it all may be for nothing. That is a lot of money. If Harbaugh wins a national championship by all means bump the salary to $8 million but I would think $5 or $6 million which I think is a hefty pay raise for him would be worth it.
Not all compensation is extrinsic some is intrinsic. He would literally be a legend if he brings UM to national prominence again. He may even usurp Bo as the face of Michigan football. That's got to be worth a couple of million especially for the guy that lives and breathes in the Bo ideology.
Maybe that's what it takes but these are unique circumstances and not just any college asking any coach to come back to lead their team.
December 3rd, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^
8 million is a very high number indeed. For me it boils down to how much Michigan wants Harbaugh and not what other schools or NFL teams would offer him. The Raiders could offer $4million but for Michigan it may not be as simple as just beating an offer like that. It is up to Michigan to convince Harbaugh to leave the professional ranks, something his agent is VERY much going to to use as a bargaining chip.
A week ago we all read, heard and thought, Michigan has to do whatever it takes to at least try and hire Harbaugh, now we're concerned about how much to pay him and waiting for him to justify the pay?
December 3rd, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
the endowment has nothing to do with athletics. Plus, people always like to point at the endowment as a reason to spend money, but the point of an endowment is to never let it shrink sothat the interest that you do spend (on scholarships mostly) is as big as possible
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
It's possible with the way coaches salaries are inflating, that in three or four years, possibly even sooner, eight million a year for an elite coach may seem like a bargain.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
Assuming Harbaugh would look at Michigan, 8+ million is nothing. The dude was a minute away from a Super Bowl ring and turned Stanford - Stanford! - into a national contender. If you want to lure a guy from the NFL, you're going to have to pay him.
The university would more than make up the salary cost over the long term - it would be an enormous boon in terms of merchandising, ticket sales, TV exposure, and press.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
Straight outta Lloyd Carr's mouth, no less!
I agree Lloyd.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
Michigan has the largest stadium in college football. The ticket prices are as high as anyone's in the country now, or at least close. If Michigan wants to be a top five program, the "leaders and best," they should pay more than anyone else. The days of the "Wolverine discount" that coaches were expected to pay for the privilege of working at Michigan are long gone.
If Michigan has to pay $8 million to get the right guy, they should.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
We have money - we can't buy players but we can buy coaches. Why not? This is clearly a worthwhile investment, especially considering how the increase in student applications to the school improves the academic environment. This is most important and effective marketing campaign the school uses.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
Agreed, wholeheartedly. Michigan will pay hundreds of millions to make the best facilitiies to lure in recruits - why not pay large sums for a great coach? Many laughed (or worse) at the J Ira Harris title, but the point of having that title (and the donation enabliing it) is to have the best of the best. The J Ira Harris title doesn't sound as silly when it allows you to pry the best coach in the country. And what is the point of all that Steve Ross money if you don't spend it? And what way can you spend that to better impact the on-field product than by hiring a coach like Harbaugh?
Not only that, but making Harbaugh the highest paid coach in the country only adds to his clout. It will be talked about by everyone, and don't think that recruits and their parents won't be a little more impressed by having the highest paid coach in all American sports sitting in their living room.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
I would also add that it may be a step in influencing other Big Ten schools to step up their game when it comes to coaching. Bert Bielema mentioned his assistants were always being poached by other schools offering more money b/c Wisconsin was cheap.
Hmm, I'm not sure if anyone has noticed lately, but the Big Ten has become kind of a laughingstock. Having coaches like Harbaugh, Dantonio, Meyer, Kill and Ferentz (j/k) would be a good start to making the Big Ten relevant again.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
8 mil is a lot, OTOH if they can come up with 250 million to expand the stadium they can find a way to pay JH.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
Agreed, for the mere fact that it's foolish to offer a guy $8 million off the bat. Start where you can and negotiate.
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
Penny smart, pound foolish.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
You're right, let's get another bargain basement Hoke type.
Enjoy your blowout losses to MSU and your 7-5 seasons.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
The coach on the other sideline was making a lot less than Hoke...less than RR. In fact, UM has lost to a ton of coaches making a lot less than what UM was paying its HC.
Its not as simple as pay a lot of loot = W's.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^
When that is what you need to pull a proven elite winner out of his current position, I would say that it is that simple.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
Harbaugh, Freddy? What coach are you bench marking him to? Carroll? Saban? Meyer? Not trying to be a douche just trying to understand your perspective (which by the way, I disagree with)
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
Dennis Nedry: "Don't get cheap on me, Dodgson. That was Hammond's mistake."
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
As long as football is making more than it costs, they can spend whatever they want as far as I'm concerned
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
Good God, we will believe anybody these days.
Bleacher Report > Football Scoop > Greg Henson > Detroit Sports Rag > Ace Williams
December 3rd, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
But if you want Harbaugh I think you'll have to get used to a number very similiar to $8 Million.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
8.1 Million....
Get your sources right man!
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
Don't care, give him all the money he wants.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
Does this guy really have any connection to Hackett?
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Let's get it to $10,000,000.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
are you?
December 4th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
But no replies.
I want some Lampuki with zalza.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Well, Mrs. Harbaugh could fly back and forth from the coast any time she wanted so we got that going for us.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Jim's ROI will be more than $8 mil per year. Do it. I am a fan of Jeff Moss but I do not want every rumor to be posted every single day. I guess I have no say in that as people will post anything. I mean WB posted about berrylicious candles. Have to just accept what comes with coaching searches.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
You don't even have to have the ROI be based on 8 million. It could be based on 4, since that's what you're going to pay anyone. The "extra" 4 million is how you would calculate the ROI, in a WAR type of way. How much more money will Harbaugh generate than you run of the mill HC? 4 mil a year would be easy to justify, I would imagine.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
Assuming there is any credibility to that AT ALL, can you imagine if we still suck and have THAT on payroll? Lets hope it's not true...and that we don't suck.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^
If Harbaugh is hired, and if we don't see improvement ... then it's time to test the water in Ann Arbor to see what the heck is going on.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Pay Harbaugh 8 million and win or someone else 4 million and likely be looking for a new coach again in three years.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^
And as much as I like Steely Dan, when it comes to coaching searches, I don't want to "Do It Again" in a couple of years.
We need to get it right this time and create some stability around the program.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^
Not really....the coach that has won the last XX national championships didn't make 8 mill. The coaches that have won the B1G have not made anywhere close to that kind of money...
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
It's only a matter of time before a coach is making $10 million. Texas was ready to offer Saban $100 million last year. When it comes to Harbaugh and Michigan, I hope money will not be an issue.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^
How many of them coached for Michigan?
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
7,999,999 to go.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
Fuck it, lets just give Nick Saban 10 million a year.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^
Harbaugh over Saban. "Hometown hero returns as Savior."
Too good to pass up.
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
drop-dead date for hiring a coach is so he can preserve trading room is going to start out with a salary that is higher than all but 1 college coach (who has what, 4 MNC rings?) and several super bowl winning coaches. Right.
December 3rd, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
How quickly everyone forgets Schlissel's competitive balance comments in the face of random blog post.
Saban is almost $1.5M ahead of anyone else in college football at $6.9M. Saban has done way more at the college level than Jim - yes Jim has success at both levels. Urban has done more at the college level as well.
You pay Jim $6Mish and he is the 2nd highest paid man in the NCAA and its not even close. And it would be higher than Saban was making 12 months ago. And way ahead of Urban. And it would be a $1M raise from his current salary.