Dan Wetzel has the details on Harbaugh's contractual demands
Dan Wetzel, who appears to have very good sources within Schembechler Hall and/or related circles, has the details of what the sticking points are with Harbaugh's contract (emphasis added):
Specifically, sources said Harbaugh is seeking language that would grant him immunity from termination from any finding or sanction that could arise from multiple current NCAA investigations into the football program.
Harbaugh is also seeking a delay in the start date of the new contract to maintain a lower buyout that NFL teams would have to pay Michigan to hire him away. The buyout in his current contract dropped from $2.25 million to $1.5 million on January 11. Michigan is seeking that to rise to about $4 million in a new deal. Harbaugh has sought to have the new deal not start until Feb. 15, thus maintaining the lower, and more favorable, buyout number until after the NFL hiring cycle has concluded.
Harbaugh is seeking a matrix of fines be spelled out if there are any future NCAA violations as well as prohibiting the school’s athletic director from firing him “for cause” and instead having that decision, should it ever arise, rest in a three-member arbitration panel, sources said.
Seems pretty clear that Harbaugh doesn't trust Manuel (or, perhaps, any future AD) to be the decider of Harbaugh's fate.
Harbaugh has sought to have his contract grant him immunity from termination for any violation stemming from those cases. It additionally spells out any penalty he may face should the NCAA rule him responsible in any future case. That would include specific fine amounts for any Level I or Level II violation.
He is also seeking to have any decision involving “for cause” termination — whether for NCAA violations or anything else — to be determined by a three-member arbitration panel rather than the school’s athletic director, a role currently held by Warde Manuel. Traditionally, for-cause termination of a coach would be determined by his direct supervisor. The athletic director would still be able to fire him for performance-related issues.
The arbitration panel is a system used by the university's president. It is common in university executive contracts, but not with coaches, according to numerous college administrators.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:20 AM ^
These all seem like reasonable demands to me, I should add. Get it done Warde—and if you can't, Santa should get it done for you.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
All are reasonable but the request to delay implementation of the agreement until after the NFL hiring cycle has been completed is a pretty clear indication, to me anyways, of where Jim truly wants to be coaching next year.
If Michigan is plan A, why does he need a lower buyout to go to plan B?
January 16th, 2024 at 11:37 AM ^
I agree. I read this as: if NFL doesn't work out this year, I'd like some assurances about University support w.r.t. NCAA.
That said, Chargers can't be that stupid: they should hire him.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
That said, Chargers can't be that stupid
* citation needed.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^
If they're equally considering Giff Smith, Leslie Frasier, Steve Wilks, Brian Callahan, Kellen Moore, Patrick Graham, then they certainly are that stupid. I'll reserve comment on Monken and MacDonald, even though it's still a no-brainer.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
EXACTLY and then this insanity repeats itself again next year and the next.
Jim constantly declares "I'll be here as long as they'll have me" but his actions say otherwise, what does that say?
I am so unbelievably ecstatic that Harbaugh and Michigan won the National Championship but I am so fucking over hearing about this every damn off season. I get that no other college coach has been successful in the NFL, other than Pete Carrol, and it's great he's at Michigan but if I'm being truthful, I'm over it. I live in SoCal and you NEVER heard of Carrol interviewing for NFL jobs, while at USC until after he was let go by USC. I believe Carrol would still be here if he had not been fired after the Reggie Bush BS.
I don't see how anyone can say that this uncertainty does not impact recruiting, it has to. I'm sure there were ways to "sell" it after the first couple times but when its every off season, the other recruiters are using this as negative leverage. I actually believe it was an advantage to recruiting after the first few seasons. How great is it to tell recruits that your coach is the only college coach that is sought after by NFL teams? If you want to play in the NFL, what better coach than JH to coach you? Unfortunately, I think that after 3-4 years of this drama, it is no longer a selling point, it has become the opposite, a detriment.
Just my thoughts, I could be completely wrong and I hope I am.
January 16th, 2024 at 3:17 PM ^
Well, you are wrong just like you hoped—see how things work out?
Carrol wasn’t fired, he quit because he saw the opportunity to jump ship rather than face the yet undetermined sanctions. Later when interviewed, he SAID that he never would have left if he had known how bad the sanctions were going to be, that instead he would have stuck it out, but he did leave for the NFL just ahead of the pitchforks.
Most people & sportscasters at the time had no ill will against Carrol because he had taken USC so far—even his AD was good with it—but Pete was definitely operating in the shade.
https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-doug-farrar/pete-carrolls-part-usc-scandal--nfl.html
Back to Harbaugh.
He has built a program from the top to the bottom and won the National Championship through great recruiting and great coaching. His program is the standard by which all programs are measured. Striving for excellence is the cornerstone of the MIchigan way. His players know that. It is the fans that get all shivery about it.
Offer him the big contract and the shields he needs, but don’t begrudge him walking his talk.
January 16th, 2024 at 7:48 PM ^
What was I wrong about Chief? That Carrol quit rather than being fired? Okay, that's a big W for you, I guess. You cite an article that was published 5 years after he "quit" in which Pete says:
"I had no knowledge that was coming. We thought maybe it wasn't coming because they didn't have anything to get us with" which to me is the definition of talking out of both sides of your mouth. Do you not grasp the obvious contradiction of that statement? If he "had no knowledge it was coming", why did he "think it wasn't coming"?
Is that all I was wrong about?
"Back to Harbaugh", was I wrong that I said I cant believe this does not negatively impact recruiting? Is this your opinion? Because I clearly stated that those were "just my thoughts" which I believe can be translated to mean "just my opinion". I love it when people state their own opinion as fact, especially when making the point that the other persons opinion is wrong but yours is somehow right.
You seem like a really fun guy to hang out with.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:39 PM ^
Yeah, when you start with flat out wrong information to use as a foundation for your opinion it does wonders for your credibility, “Chief.”
Not a big win for me, but a big “L” for you.
I added the articles so you might learn a little. Seemed like you needed to. Carroll is talking out of both sides as usual, but he wasn’t fired. He quit. So talking all about Carroll and what he never would have done, etc., is just garbage. I would help you understand the quote you seem unable to comprehend, but I’ve wasted too much time on you already.
Oh, and I actually am fun to hang out with, I just don’t hang-out with people that make sh*t up and then can’t own it.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
OTOH, he doesn't need to sign a new Michigan contract to take an NFL job. The dollar amount in any case is not going to matter to an NFL team. $4M isn't going to scare any owner off.
It also seems doubtful to me that he'd actually sign a new contract here and then, days later, leave for the pros. I don't think that's how he operates.
That clause doesn't make a lot of sense to me one way or the other.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
2nd paragraph- my thoughts exactly
January 16th, 2024 at 12:46 PM ^
Yes, knowing who is doing the demanding, these demands do not seem to me to be attempts to manipulate outcomes so much as requests to be shown the respect that has been missing.
Show me that you actually think that I'm honorable, and that your yellow-bellied caving to the NCAA had nothing to do with thinking that I cheat or run a shady program.
Show me that you care to protect me more than the AD does, since my faith in his prioritizing that is shot.
Show me that you care to let me sign now, with buyout change later, rather than forcing me to sign later by making it a business-stupidity to sign now. If you show me you care in the other ways, I'm staying here anyway, and the buyout doesn't matter.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^
^^ This
January 16th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
My read is the entire thing is a stalling technique to prevent exactly the scenario you describe, signing then leaving
January 16th, 2024 at 1:11 PM ^
IIRC, he's currently under contract, he doesn't even need to sign a new contract now. So I agree, why put that in at this point? Why not wait until after February 15th to sign any contract and not have that clause in it?
January 16th, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^
Exactly, which tells me what I always say, CLICK BAIT!
These guys dont know shit, they are all just trying to get paid and it's SAD.
They are no better than Paul Finebottom, just a bunch of sell out, click bait whores who once considered themselves serious journalists.
Its PATHETIC.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
Peter King was on the radio this morning and said Harbaugh could be looking at a contract near 20M/yr in the NFL. That's what Denver and New England were paying. The large contract difference seems a like another factor that's not being talked about.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:47 PM ^
You think he'll get a guaranteed deal for that amount? For how many years?
January 16th, 2024 at 1:05 PM ^
Highly doubt that with LAC at least. Pretty good article below about what I have heard about Spanos family in the past at least. They also have no ownership of stadium. Term of contract pretty interesting as well. Last I counted 26 of 32 NFL coaches had been with teams less than 5 years. Also look at heat on top coaches at Dallas and Philly when lose a playoff game. Bill B I think was highest paid @ $20M but 6 rings and player personnel job add to that!
https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/anthony-lynn-chargers-cheap-dean-spanos-49ers-01gq3zkpsdcr
January 16th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
Peter King was basically saying that Spanos would feel a lot of pressure to pay that amount because the Chargers are viewed as being distant second to the Rams in that market. I can sort of see that but that's a lot of money.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
Agreed - I said this on the other post but keeping the buyout lower through the NFL hiring cycle is the one item that gives serious concern to his desire to return and strikes me as telegraphing that Harbaugh does not want to stay at Michigan
I cannot imagine why you would sign a new contract and specifically ask that some of the protections for the school to avoid you jumping ship right away are deferred for one month until it basically becomes a moot point. That clearly says even if I sign the contract, you should know you are plan B and this is not binding and I still will leave if given the opportunity
January 16th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
Harbaugh is a strange bird. Maybe he wants to feel like the cage door is open for him to want to stay.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
But he's not a nervous bird or jive turkey.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:42 PM ^
I dont know, he may be kind of a jive turkey with the constant "I'll stay at Michigan as long as they will have me" thing.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
That's the one I don't understand - Makes it sound like he's willing to sign the long-worked-on contract here and then literally days later bail anyway and go to the NFL. Which would just be bizarre.
And we keep hearing that "Michigan is where he really wants to be" ??
Unless of course, that provision is being pushed by his agent...it IS his job to keep all Jim's options available.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:26 PM ^
There's no point in signing him to a contract he can back out of over the next month. If he needs the buyout to stay low so that he can leave if he wants, he should just not sign until after he's made up his mind on the nfl. All in or all out
January 16th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
Agreed. I want him to stay and I'll give him most anything he wants ... BUT
non-negotiable to me would be NO NFL for ... some number of years. Sign the big deal with "immunity" and you are in all the way.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:15 PM ^
Agreed.
He's 100% gone.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
Harbaugh has been gone 100% so many times already on this board.
Remember Harbaugh will be in a room with billionaires interviewing. He will be 100% himself. The owner, after talking with him for hours, has to agree to give up much of the decision making to him and be ready for those kind of talks for several years to come.
This isnt an application to work the drive thru at Mcdonalds. Its going to take a very specific kind of owner to bring him on board.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:39 PM ^
Between the Chargers, Seahawks, Falcons, Titans, Commanders, Raiders, Panthers, Cowboys (potentially), Eagles (potentially) some owner is going to get Harbaugh.
The ride was amazing, but Jim can now sail off into the sunset chasing his last goal.
An NFL Championship.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
9 openings would tell me all I need to know about the NFL. 33% yearly turnover when Im on my 9th year at U of M? No thanks. In all honesty it would be a fun conversation with coach.
"Hey coach say you win the Super Bowl. You honestly think it would be more fun than this run you just went on beating OSU 3x, 3 big ten championships, A Rose Bowl victory retiring Nick Saban and a National Championship? I dont know about that coach."
January 16th, 2024 at 2:18 PM ^
I can say with certainty that while I can name off CFB winners and who was their coach at the time, that I cannot do the same in the NFL.
I have no problem with leaving to chase a SB ring but I have always viewed these decisions, especially with Harbaugh, as leaving a legacy and that very rarely happens in the NFL.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
Beat Ohio State 3x in a row.
Won the B1G Championship 3x in a row.
Went to CFB playoffs 3x in a row.
Won a National Championship.
And yet here we are still talking about a damn contract extension 3 years later lol.
That tells me everything I need to know.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^
Yeah I agree with you its a real head scratcher. If he doesnt reach his goal of super bowl winner he may look back at this decision with regret. If 1 out of every 3 coaches is terminated every season good luck being around long enough to make it to a super bowl.
January 16th, 2024 at 4:03 PM ^
What if he DOES reach his goal.. say year 3/4. Does he still want to be in the NFL. If the ultimate goal is Super Bowl then what do you do once you've won it. Do you want to retire in LA or Ann Arbor?
January 16th, 2024 at 4:18 PM ^
Jim has maintained a beach house in the San Diego area for the entire time he has worked here so I'm fairly confident that retirement means Southern California for him regardless of which job he has last
January 16th, 2024 at 5:09 PM ^
Fair, but I guess I didn't mean after retiring from football as much as where does he want to coach out the last few years after he has accomplished all of his goals.
January 16th, 2024 at 5:48 PM ^
Why aren't we looking for a new coach then? All the good ones got hired away while we wait for what everyone says is a certainty.
January 16th, 2024 at 7:26 PM ^
Because the obvious replacement is on the staff
January 16th, 2024 at 3:32 PM ^
Jim is sort of wacky in an endearing way for us because of winning but his personality will only fit so many owners and a lot could be rubbed off by his mannerisms.
Honestly he is a perfect college coach because players are around him for 3-5 years and move on. (as much as we crap on the little troll in East Lansing, he is exactly the same in that no one is going to put up with Izzo's tough love act in the NBA) It's a tough act to sit through for 6-10 years so his staying power anywhere amongst 23-35 year old men is going to be tough as it was late in the SF era.
That said it only takes one.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:15 PM ^
He's only gone if someone else will have him. Hasn't happened yet and not clear it ever will.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:45 PM ^
Not without a better offer.
That's why he's still here in '22 & '23.
And may be again in '24...
January 16th, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
That is the “head scratcher” to me as well. It just seems like he wants to be in the NFL, but wants the perfect situation. I don’t think Michigan is asking too much on that aspect
I can see why they don’t want to go thru this every year. It’s not sustainable
January 16th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
I think the "right" NFL job is and maybe has been Plan A. The question is how "right" is defined. If Coach Harbaugh's definition is highly selective and narrow, I am ok with that. He came really close to winning a Super Bowl. Now that he's won at Michigan, I can imagine the draw of taking another crack at a Super Bowl win being very strong.
That being said, I also buy the narrative that Coach Harbaugh highly values relationships. If Michigan offers him the best relationship, I think he might choose that over even a very good NFL offer.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:31 PM ^
If Philly brooms the coaching staff as they should, that might be the quickest path back to the Super Bowl and they will pay up for Harbaugh. Hate to say it but Harbaugh with a power run game and Minter with his defensive scheme could be deadly there.
January 16th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
100% agree and said the same thing to my son a couple of hours ago. They have EVERYTHING in place to win now and sustain it except a competent coaching staff.
The Chargers have a QB but are aging and are in salary cap hell next year. The Raiders dont have a QB and appear to want to give their interim HC a shot at the job. The Cowboys, if/when the fire McCarthy have Jerry Jones and he's not going to give up control over the team no matter how badly he screws things up.
The Eagles are the play IMO.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:04 PM ^
Hurts seems like a QB that Harbaugh would want to work with.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:54 PM ^
Jerry Jones and Harbaugh might be entertainment gold.
I am assuming Harbaugh would strictly go NFC with his brother in the AFC.
January 16th, 2024 at 3:16 PM ^
I can’t even imagine. Lol
They’d either love each other or despise each other, no in between.