Jim Harbaugh: I’m here ‘as long as Michigan wants me here’
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh flirted with the NFL again in the offseason, including the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. This came a year after he admitted he’d have taken the Minnesota Vikings job if both sides were all in, after which he said he was here as long as athletic director Warde Manuel would have him.
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During a Thursday press conference, Harbaugh was asked why he had conversations with NFL teams again given his previous statement.
“Like we’ve said, it’s an ongoing thing, something we treat as a really positive thing that NFL franchises and teams have a lot of interest in all of our personnel — coaches, players, and staff,” Harbaugh said. “And if someone in our organization feels like that’s going to benefit them professionally and personally, then we say, ‘have at it.’ We don’t hold anybody back.
“I think the players, it’s got to be so many over the last eight years — in the 80s or 90s over eight years. Coaches, I think I’ve lost count how many coaches have gone to the NFL from here. Staff members … same. Right now, [defensive coordinator] Jesse Minter is considering that. We just don’t hold them back.”
Minter recently interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles for their vacant D.C position.
“I can’t even tell you all the ones. Calls come in … calls are taken,” Harbaugh continued. “Those conversations are had. There are a few coaches on our staff those calls came in and they decided to stay here at Michigan. I’m one of them. There’s another.
“People do what they think is best for them professionally and personally. [But] I’m always … I’m here as long as Michigan wants me here. You would have had a story if I wasn’t here. But I’m here, and this is where I wanted to be.”
President Santa Ono was the one who confirmed Harbaugh would be back in Ann Arbor after the coach interviewed with Denver. Several say he was instrumental in making sure Harbaugh knew he was wanted.
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“I just got off the phone with Coach Harbaugh and Jim shared with me the great news that he is going to remain as the Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines,” Ono tweeted last month. “That is fantastic news that I have communicated to our Athletic Director Warde Manuel.”
There were reports Harbaugh hadn’t been speaking much with Manuel. However, Harbaugh said today he was on good terms with the A.D.
“It’s a great relationship … [that’s] one of those narratives out there [that it’s not],” he said.
He tweeted again last month that he loved where he was.
“I love the relationships that I have at Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, President Santa Ono and especially the players and their families,” Harbaugh responded in a statement. “My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to out-happy, happy.’ Go Blue!”
Harbaugh is 74-25 in eight seasons as Michigan head coach and has won two straight games against Ohio State and back-to-back Big Ten titles.
