According to multiple sources, the University of Michigan has offered Jim Harbaugh a six year, $48 million dollar contract to return to his alma mater as head coach.
The 50-year-old Harbaugh is in the fourth year of a five year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, but they have already been eliminated from playoff contention, and Harbaugh’s relationship with management, particularly general manager Trent Baalke has been notoriously rocky over the last year. In his three previous years as head coach, Harbaugh has led San Francisco to two division titles, two NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance, where he lost to the Baltimore Ravens, coached by his brother John.
Prior to taking over in San Francisco in 2011, Harbaugh compiled a 29-21 record in four seasons as head coach at Stanford, including a 12-1 record and number four national ranking in 2010. He was widely credited for taking a program that historically relied on finesse, and turning it into a physical power in the Pac-12 Conference. He coached at the University of San Diego for three years prior to that.
Harbaugh started at quarterback for three seasons at Michigan, leading the Wolverines to the 1987 Rose Bowl and finishing fifth in the Heisman trophy balloting as a senior. He went on to play quarterback in the NFL for six teams over a 14-year career.
Michigan fired Brady Hoke as head coach immediately after the regular season ended in late November. Hoke had been at Michigan for four years and had won 60% of his games, but his record got decidedly worse year by year.
Neither Harbaugh nor his representatives have commented on a contract offer from Michigan. He is also believed to be a leading candidate for the Oakland Raiders head coaching job after this season.
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