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AP Names Jim Harbaugh Coach of the year, reveals final voting numbers

Sean Labarby:Sean Labar•12/10/21•

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Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have a Top 15 recruiting class this cycle.

Jim Harbaugh has been ridiculed, questioned and came into the 2021 campaign with more questions than sure answers surrounding his future leading the Michigan Wolverines.

According to an official press release from the Associated Press on Friday, Harbaugh has been named The AP college football coach of the year after leading the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title in 17 years and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Harbaugh is the first Michigan coach to win the AP Coach of the Year Award and the first from the Big Ten since Penn State’s Joe Paterno in 2005.

“It’s a tremendous reflection on the entire staff, players,” Harbaugh told AP. “Everybody shares in it. A rising tide lifts all ships.”

As the AP release notes, Harbaugh came into his seventh season as coach of his alma mater on a hot seat after going 2-4 in the Big Ten’s abbreviated schedule in 2020. After his first losing season with Michigan, Harbaugh took a pay cut and had his buyout reduced, putting the school in better position to make a coaching change if this season didn’t go well.

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Jim Harbaugh wins by slim margin

Unlike the voting for Bryce Young winning AP Player of the Year in a clear runaway that was announced earlier this week, the voting was much closer for Harbaugh to claim the top coaching honor.

He received 22 of 53 first-place votes and 103 points from a panel of AP Top 25 voters to finish ahead of Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, who had 16 first-place votes and 88 points.

Baylor’s Dave Aranda was third and Michigan State’s Mel Tucker was fourth.

Behind Tucker, there were votes for a wide array of coaches. The full list and number of votes received is listed below.


AP Player of the Year: Bryce Young, Alabama

Full voting results

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan — 103 points (22 first-place votes).

Luke Fickell, Cincinnati — 88 (16).

Dave Aranda, Baylor —47 (5).

Mel Tucker, Michigan State — 22 (4).

Kirby Smart, Georgia — 13 (1).

Blake Anderson, Utah State — 11 (3).

Nick Saban, Alabama — 9 (1).

Dave Clawson, Wake Forest — 6 (1).

Jeff Traylor, UTSA — 6.

Pat Narduzzi, Pitt — 4.

Kyle Whittingham, Utah — 4.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas — 2.

Mike Houston, East Carolina — 1.

Billy Napier, Louisiana — 1.

Kalani Sitake, BYU — 1.