Michigan Hires Mike Hart As Running Backs Coach
Michigan's all-time leading rusher and one of the better assistant coaches in the Big Ten is coming home. Mike Hart, who's served as Indiana's running backs coach since 2017 and added an associate head coach title in 2020, will join Jim Harbaugh's staff as running backs coach, as first reported by Jamie Morris and quickly confirmed by the program itself:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Wednesday (Jan. 13) the hiring of former Wolverine running back Mike Hart as the program's running back mentor. The all-time leading rusher in Michigan football history, Hart has been the running backs coach at Indiana University for the past four seasons (2017-20). He was elevated to associate head coach in 2020 after serving as the Hoosiers' assistant coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
"I am excited about the addition of Mike Hart to our offensive coaching staff," said Harbaugh. "Mike is a great coach and Michigan Man who has shown the ability to develop and elevate the performance of the running backs that he has mentored. We look forward to welcoming Mike, Monique and their children to the Michigan Football family."
"Michigan has always held a special place in my heart," said Hart. "It is a place that always believed in me and a place that I have always have believed in. I am excited to join Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan staff, and can't wait to get to work with a talented running back group."
In his 10 seasons as a coach, Hart has tutored four 1,000-yard rushers, two Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year recipients and the 2014 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jarvion Franklin.
As a member of the Indiana coaching staff, Hart was a 2018 Broyles Award nominee and received recognition as a Top 25 recruiter by Rivals.com for his work on the 2019 signing class.
Hart has been instrumental in the development of Indiana's running game, with the program gaining 1,888 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018. IU followed up by producing 1,695 yards and 24 TDs in 2019. The Hoosiers gained 869 yards and scored 12 TDs during the shortened 2020 campaign.
Hart developed Stevie Scott into an all-conference performer with the tailback earning second team All-Big Ten accolades the past two seasons (2019-20) after collecting honorable mention honors as a freshman.
Before we proceed further, this is mandatory viewing:
Excellent. With that out of the way, this is a universally lauded hire for Harbaugh, and for good reason. Hart's track record as a developer of running backs and recruiter is strong given the talent one can land at Indiana, Syracuse, and directional Michigan schools. Hart got the most out of his physical ability as a player and he should help Michigan's very talented backs do the same.
The addition of Hart to the coaching staff means Jay Harbaugh will move full-time to special teams, according to Sam Webb. It also provides a spark of excitement for a program that really needs it.
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January 14th, 2021 at 2:43 AM ^
New Safeties coach: a goat
January 13th, 2021 at 8:34 PM ^
I don't know why anyone negs this. One, you're not supposed to neg something you disagree with, that's what the discussion is for. Two, you're exactly right because it's happened before. Maybe that will turn out good and maybe it will turn out bad. I'm cautiously optimistic, but am also worried poor Hart is walking into a difficult position and may be gone in a year with a strained UM relationship.
January 13th, 2021 at 10:32 PM ^
I don't know why anyone negs this.
I guess folks are forgetting about when Mike Hart said this about Jim Harbaugh:
"He’s not a Michigan man. I wish he’d never played here."
January 13th, 2021 at 11:16 PM ^
Both sides have gotten past that issue - why drag it up?:
January 13th, 2021 at 11:32 PM ^
Do people remind you of stuff you said 14 years ago?
January 14th, 2021 at 11:47 AM ^
Is he married? Then yeah.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:07 AM ^
Negged, for telling people what they are & aren't supposed to neg!
January 13th, 2021 at 8:49 PM ^
I don't necessarily agree, but it's not a take that deserves to be negged. +1 to get you even.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:45 PM ^
Has everyone forgotten they’ve butted heads before?
I imagine this had to be awkward at some point lol. Glad to see they’ve apparently reconciled
January 14th, 2021 at 12:06 AM ^
You don't think Tom Allen is a strong personality?
That worked just fine.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:11 PM ^
"we have a QB"
Do we?
January 13th, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
For now, yes we do.
I have my own (unpopular) opinions about Cade and JJ in training camp with Harbaugh in their heads full time. Harbaugh as QB coach with his outdated offensive philosophy is a terrible idea. It's too bad he can't recognize that.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
The week just keeps getting better ??〽️
January 13th, 2021 at 6:32 PM ^
In the Hart tribute video, lol at what Musberger said after the first highlight: “Get Hart outside; give him some space.” Very prescient!
January 14th, 2021 at 6:07 AM ^
Phrasing?
January 13th, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
Can he do all the MSU postgame news conferences?
January 13th, 2021 at 10:34 PM ^
My first thought too.
That would be delicious. Staee heads would explode.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
Im excited for this move. Two reasons, love Mike’s passion and it shows Jim’s ability to break bread over past issues. Congrats to Mike and welcome home, let’s go blue!
January 13th, 2021 at 6:35 PM ^
Indiana ran for -1 yards against OSU. And only 118 yards at 3.1 ypc against Michigan. I really don’t want to sound not excited because I love Mike Hart, but I’m not extremely impressed with this hire. I have talked with him multiple times here at IU and he’s a good addition to the staff, but I really don’t see him being a better running backs coach than Harbaugh. I guess it’s good we keep both Harbaugh and get Hart.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:56 PM ^
Really? A guy who played the RB position very well would not be better than a person who never took a snap? C'mon man there are tricks and tips that are best translated by someone who actually played the position. He's a major upgrade.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:36 PM ^
Yeah, that's not really how that works. Some of the best coaches never played a snap at the position they coached.
8.5.5January 13th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
Playing a position or not playing it doesnt make a better coach. Being able to teach and get info across does. There are plenty of great players who are lousy coaches because they dont know how to communicate what they know how to do themselves, and plenty of guys who never played at a high level or at all that are great coaches.
It depends on the individual's coaching skills, not playing skills.
January 13th, 2021 at 8:37 PM ^
Bill Belichick and Nick Saban never took a snap in college.
January 13th, 2021 at 11:04 PM ^
Who? Never heard of these two guys.
January 13th, 2021 at 11:09 PM ^
I think he'll be a fine coach but if Jaybaugh was downgraded to just ST in order to bring Hart on, I'm not sold that demonstrably improves the coaching at the RB position. I actually think RB has been one of the few consistent bright spots for this team over the past couple of years, and I've been impressed by the development of guys like Haskins and Corum. I think it brings another good recruiter to the mix, though I guess we'll have to see.
Glad Hart is back because I liked him as a player, but I thought IU's rushing attack this year was really pedestrian when I saw it. It's hard to chalk that up to a position coach versus an offensive coordinator's approach, though.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
Hart's highlight video is a great example of the difference between quickness and speed.
January 14th, 2021 at 12:10 AM ^
Also timing. Watching him take 2,3 sometime 4 stutter steps as he sees his blocker set up before he makes the perfect and efficient cut right off the blockers hip. So many backs think they have to mash the gas & run for the biggest slice of open space they think they see. Only to have run right into fast crashing LBs or DBs. Learning or having the instinct to ride close to your blockers, not giving those 2nd & 3rd level tacklers a clear visual line that tells them where to meet you is better than pure speed IMO. Lots of really fast guys that can’t get that 4th yard because they don’t look for alleys. They just want to sprint to daylight.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:37 PM ^
"We look forward to welcoming Mike, Monique and their children to the Michigan Football family."
As an alumni of some distinction, wasn't he already in the Michigan football family? Small nit, sure, but jeez...
Nonetheless, getting him back home and keeping Jaybaugh is a great move. Maybe he can revitalize the program?
January 13th, 2021 at 10:06 PM ^
Why is keeping coach's kid a great move? Kick him out of the nest and let him get a job somewhere if he's any good. Michigan should not be a farm club for coach kids to have a job learning how to coach. Nepotism sucks anywhere and everywhere.
Michigan deserves coaches that are the best available after evaluating multiple candidates not because their last name is Harbaugh.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:12 AM ^
Because many croots name young Harbaugh as a great & important recruiter.
THAT'S why!
January 14th, 2021 at 11:30 AM ^
Nepotism for nepotism's sake absolutely sucks. However, when someone does their job and does it well, I don't care who he's related to.
Sometimes those people have it harder than someone not related to the boss, because even when they succeed some people still give them no credit, because "nepotism".
January 13th, 2021 at 6:41 PM ^
I'm "eh" with this move. Seems like a decent hire, most would have said "eh" if it wasn't "A MICHIGAN MAN!!!" I do hope he progresses into a excellent coach and recruiter . Crazy to think I started reading this blog when he committed to MICHIGAN.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:54 PM ^
Exactly. Looking strictly at the production of the units he’s led, it’s a bit underwhelming. Obviously people are going to overhype it and get excited because it’s a former Michigan great. But it he were an alum of... Oklahoma or something... it really wouldn’t move the needle as much.
Great guy and I hope it works out obviously, but at this point I’m pretty “eh” as well.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
My favorite mgoblog past time, getting negged for post the truth ??
January 13th, 2021 at 8:07 PM ^
It’s going to happen. Hart is a legendary Michigan player and people are enamored with that fact, and that fact alone.
Here’s an example: Illinois has had a better rushing attack every single year than Indiana as well. Better than Michigan in 2 of the 3 seasons and finished top 4 in the B1G in yards per carry twice in the past 3 seasons. Had Michigan hired the Illinois running backs coach, nobody would be excited about it and most would probably bash the hire. But since Hart played here and was a great player, everyone is applauding the hire of the running backs coach from one of the bottom 4 rushing attacks over the last 3 seasons.
Again, I hope this works out great for everyone involved. But it’s definitely an “eh” for me at this point. *shrugs*
January 13th, 2021 at 9:09 PM ^
This is a good point. I didn't know this, and what you're saying is pretty right-on. I will temper my positive expectations somewhat. Thanks for a solid post, with data.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:16 AM ^
Somebody named Hart one of the B10's top.crooters. After all the whining on this board about crootin I can't believe anyone comes into this thread bemoaning the hire!
I'll turn it around - if he'd come from Oklahoma with that rep, you same ppl negging him would be drooling!
January 14th, 2021 at 1:13 AM ^
That is one sad ass favorite pastime Monkey!
January 14th, 2021 at 10:00 AM ^
“Truth”
January 13th, 2021 at 6:46 PM ^
One thing about this hire that I'm excited about. Hart went on a RIDICULOUS steak of not fumbling. Always talked about the focusing on certain points of the football. Hopefully, he can get the team to have zero fumbles. ?
January 13th, 2021 at 7:56 PM ^
If I remember correctly, he was also exemplary in pass protection / blitz pick-ups. When Oregon torched us, they were still blitzing late and at a certain point, Hart was all, F this and started teeing off on blitzers, quite violently. One of my all-time UM favorite players.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
Huge fan of Mike Hart, and am sure he'll do a great job with the RBs... not personally convinced everyone needs to be from Michigan, however, I think he has a strong resume regardless of where he played football.
Love the fact he was considered to be a strong recruiter.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:48 PM ^
This is a fantastic hire.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:49 PM ^
Awesome news! Welcome home Mike.
January 13th, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^
Indiana has ranked below Michigan and in the bottom half of the conference in rushing yards per game and yards per carry each year since Hart took the job at IU (and coincidentally, Jay took the RBs coach job here).
Team Stats per game. Conf rank in parentheses.
2018: 35.7 rushes (12th), 157.3 ypg (9th), 4.4 ypc (7th) UM had 4.8 ypc for comparison.
2019: 35.7 rushes (10th), 130.8 ypg (12th), 3.7 ypc (11th) UM had 4.0 ypc for comparison.
2020: 34 rushes (11th), 111.8 ypg (12th) , 3.3 yards per carry (12th) UM had 4.6 ypc for comparison.
Hopefully Hart can do more with more talent at UM, but looking objectively at the running game production at IU it seems a bit underwhelming. While his recruiting chops at IU are a positive, that’s not exactly an area where we were hurting to begin with as Jay has done a great job bringing in top ranked backs. Unless we’re hoping for name recognition alone to keep in-state talent across all positions.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
Michigan also had Ed Warinner and at least in 2019 a bunch of NFL draftees.
The offenses are different enough that I think any direct comparison is a fools errand. Hart will do a fine job -- frankly, Jaybaugh seems to have done decently -- and if he's as good of a recruiter as he's reputed to be this is a home run hire.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:13 PM ^
I don’t see what Michigan having Warinner and NFL caliber OL really has to do with anything. We were also hampered by questionable playcalling and a QB who refused to keep on read-options, which caused our backs to run directly into a wall of defensive linemen. Kinda cancels out that offensive line.
It also doesn’t explain the IU end of things, where they consistently ranked in the bottom half of the conference (usually in the bottom 25% actually).
Before you bring up talent again, plenty of bad teams have been able to produce top end running games in the conference. 4 of the top 5 rushing attacks this year were on sub-.500 teams. Northwestern was horrible last year and finished top 5 in the conference. Indiana meanwhile put up nearly identical rushing stats as Rutgers. In 2018, Illinois, Maryland and Nebraska all finished top 5 in rushing.
Is offensive style a factor? Sure, to an extent. I still don’t see how that translates here. Is Hart somehow more of a fit for our “speed in space” scheme? He had a back who received all-conference honors all three seasons he was there and they couldn’t develop that into a top half of the conference running game. They relied on their starter and didn’t get much out of anyone else. That’s underwhelming and draws some big question marks, especially when you look at how it didn’t seem like Stevie Scott got any better since he was a freshman. So you begin to question the development there.
Again with recruiting, you’re replacing an ace recruiter with an ace recruiter. That’s not an upgrade in the recruiting department. We weren’t struggling to attract top running backs. So unless the thought is that Hart is going to have some profound impact in the Metro Detroit area, then you’re getting the same thing you were getting from Jay to begin with.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:15 PM ^
You seem to think that we're firing Jay. I'm pretty sure he'll coach another area of the team, and will continue to be a strong recruiter for us.
January 13th, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^
No, Jay is going to coach special teams only. But that’s where I see this hire as failing to bring actual value to the table. We already have a running backs coach that gets good production out of his position group and is a great recruiter. Moving him to special teams doesn’t seem to improve the staff in any capacity. I’d rather keep Jay at running backs and bring in a great recruiter to coach corners or safeties. Or hire an a highly regarded and dedicated QBs coach.
January 13th, 2021 at 9:00 PM ^
We may hire a prolific hire at both corner and safety. Ironically, our qb’s have played the best under Harbaugh while he was the qb coach. Jay at special teams is fine if he’s ok with it and still is able to recruit well.
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