Jim Harbaugh on new contract: 'Yeah - you want to be somewhere you're wanted'
As we first reported last week, the wheels are in motion for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to sign a new contract, now sooner than later. Harbaugh, currently the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big Ten, should have a deal in place within the next several weeks that would put him up there with Ohio State’s Ryan Day as the conference’s No. 1 salary earner.
Harbaugh is open to it, of course, and said as much at his Monday press conference. He’s spoken with NFL teams the past two years and admitted he would have signed with Minnesota had it been right.
“Yeah, I mean like anybody, I’ve said it. You want to be somewhere where you’re wanted,” Harbaugh said. “They like what you do and how you do it, and they tell you that. Your bosses tell you that, and then that gets reflected in a contract.
“The bottom line … any of us, right? We want to be somewhere they like how you do it and what you do.”
Many around the country have marveled that Harbaugh hasn’t received his deal yet. There was some talk the the administration was waiting until his NCAA situation was resolved — though the university suspended him for three games for recruiting violations, the NCAA hasn’t accepted that yet as the last, definitive word on punishment. That’s expected to be resolved in January or February.
But Harbaugh will be a hot commodity after the season, if he’s not already. Fox analyst Joel Klatt believes NFL teams will be lining up to sign him in the offseason. Whereas it was only Minnesota two years ago, there was more buzz last season, and Harbaugh has had elite success since in leading Michigan to consecutive Big Ten titles. The Wolverines are also off to a great start this year, of course, No. 2 in the nation.
“The dynamic with him and his leadership at Michigan is interesting,” Klatt said. “I believe that there is some tension, and it’s the reason why the President [Santa Ono] had to jump in and do the new contract. I just know that there’s some tension.
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“And by the way, it has seeped into this ‘self-imposed’ suspension this year. Michigan suspended him. Of course [he didn’t want that]. That’s why his players had a ‘Free Harbaugh’ shirt on. They’re not taking a shot at the NCAA, right? Read between the lines.”
As we’ve reported, the wheels are in motion, and there’s a timetable to get this done. Some in the administration have pushed the issue with Ono firmly on board, committed to keeping the coach in Ann Arbor for the long term.
“Yeah, I do [feel like I’m wanted],” Harbaugh said. “It’s been about a three and a half year thing with that [in seeking reassurances]. Eventually, it gets put into a contract. I can’t say that anymore clearly. I’m definitely open to that. I think I’ve shown that through the years.
“But like anybody, man, I’m just concentrating and focusing on having a good practice today. Got a team meeting coming up, got a practice. It’s ‘just coach the team’ time’ when you’re in the middle of the season.”
