Jay Harbaugh, Mike Hart discuss opportunity to act in interim head coach role

Jay Harbaugh and Mike Hart got a chance to be interim head coaches for Michigan Saturday during a 35-7 win over UNLV.

Jim Harbaugh’s son led the first half while Hart coached the second half in the role. They both embraced and loved the opportunity to help the Wolverines go 2-0 on the young season.

WIth one game to go before Jim Harbaugh returns, Jay was more than thrilled to get his chance.

“Yeah, it was an honor,” Jay Harbaugh said. “You know, just love being a part of a team. And, you know, it’s an honor to be given that privilege and responsibility. We have the kind of team and coaches and culture that makes that kind of thing pretty easy for us to be able to step in just because it’s a well oiled machine. It’s running really well and players make things easy when they play great football like they did today.”

Hart echoed those comments. He’s been on staff for some time now but it was still a different perspective to lead the team on game day.

“Just to echo what Jay said, I think it was awesome,” Hart said. “It was awesome to have the opportunity. I don’t think we really, you know, we miss coach Harbaugh. He’s the one that runs the show. But the culture he’s put here, placed within the coaches, how we operate on game day, hasn’t really switched much. Honestly having coach (Sherrone) Moore back was huge. And being able to call the offense, his energy and how smart of a coach he is.”

Quarterback JJ McCarthy is really starting to let it loose, turning the Wolverines into more of a passing offense. He went 22-of-25 passing for 278 yards and two touchdowns.

​​“We’re going to do what works,” Hart said of the offense. “It makes it easier when J.J. can throw that hard and that far down the field for explosive plays. Obviously, we want to have explosive plays. So, I think the development you see is the development of J.J. McCarthy and of the receivers being on the same bandwidth and getting things done together.”

That doesn’t mean the run game doesn’t work for Michigan. The Harbaugh clan and Hart love the balance.

Blake Corum ran for 80 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns as he returned to form after last season’s injury.

Michigan stays home next Saturday when the Wolverines host Bowling Green at 7:30 p.m. ET.