How Warde Handles Coaching Searches [edit: Today's thread for all Harbaugh speculation]
The football coaching search parallels a different coaching search Michigan had for basketball back in 2019. While John Beilein's departure was a surprise to many, in 2018 he gave indications to Warde Manuel that he may be interested in NBA opportunities. Warde Manuel used that information to create a list of potential hires. Something he almost certainly has done for football dating back to last year (or possibly earlier).
Below is a quote, and an MLive link with some info from Warde when Michigan was in the middle of the basketball coaching search.
“I’m always prepared, try to be at least,” he said. “You hope to never have to do anything with it, but you try to prepare and think about next steps and have conversations around what that would look like and who that may be but wasn’t hoping to implement any plans.”
https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/05/warde-manuel-surprised-by-john-bei…
February 1st, 2022 at 10:31 AM ^
It would have to be a significantly larger/more buoyant boat for Warde
February 1st, 2022 at 9:03 AM ^
I think the surprising thing about the Howard search was that it didn't seem like Warde spent all too much time pursuing "elite" hires. Names like Billy Donovan and Nate Oats were thrown out but I don't think Warde dwelled on them for too long. Looking back, there was much consternation about retaining Luke Yaklich, but now I don't think anyone around here has thought about him in a while. I think I'd avoid putting too much pressure on retaining this staff for the same reason (especially since one of the key contributors is already gone)
I feel Warde prefers an up and comer who can relate to the players well. Michigan ties are a plus.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:04 AM ^
If Warde is worth his salt, he's been thinking of replacements since Jim signed a contract including a steep pay cut last season.
I think the whole 'he's gone' 'Good riddance' crowd is flying off the handle like its hot. He said he'd entertain offers, there's a very low chance of getting an offer without having an interview. The media and lying heads have linked him to Vegas, Miami, Chicago..... nothing materialized with any of them (to this point).... MN wasn't even discussed until a week ago.
There is just as much chance he comes back from MN and signs his new contract with U of M as he accepts a job there. IMO.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:06 AM ^
Thanks for the common sense post. Totally agree
February 1st, 2022 at 9:07 AM ^
They are flying him in for an interview. Demeco Ryans backed out of a 2nd interview.
Odds are that he is going to be Minnesota’s next head coach.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:14 AM ^
I think the GM likes the idea. I think ownership needs to be convinced. Harbaugh will demand a much larger investment than a younger option like Kevin O'Connell
February 1st, 2022 at 9:36 AM ^
Do you happen to "think" that because that is what Sam already reported?
February 1st, 2022 at 9:31 AM ^
If I was a betting person I'd bet against Harbaugh to the Viking. If he gets an offer, Miami will call Michigan to talk to Harbaugh and Ross will beat any offer the Viking make.
Just in case anybody is wondering. In a thread a few days back somebody here rutgerred Minneota and took away both their 's'.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:01 AM ^
I agree. To me it's obvious what Ross is doing. Has to save face with alumni and still get Harbaugh. The narrative will be he wanted to leave, was leaving to Minnesota. And at the t point only when Ross knew he was leaving, swoop in and offer. This is how it'll play out.
February 1st, 2022 at 6:23 PM ^
Correct and if you believe the reporting from very credible Michigan guys, he is their new GM's number one choice now and if offered Harbaugh will accept.
The only way this doesn't happen IMO is if their GM cant sell the Vikings ownership on making the move, as the reports suggest that they arent 100% behind it.
But in that case maybe Ross swoops in and grabs him for Miami to eat away at the PR shit storm that he's dealing with today.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:15 AM ^
I doubt that, if he does not get the Vikings job he will get another job, probably Miami. I think he mad his decision that he is NFL or bust.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
Yes, agreed. He has had a spreadsheet of potential hires before Harbaugh even read the contract last year.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
MN wasn't even discussed until a week ago
This is the biggest signal that he's gone, to me. Harbaugh doesn't seem to even care what the NFL job is. He just wants an NFL job. People thought that there was something unique about the opportunity in Las Vegas that could pull him away from Michigan. But now we know he's interested in just any NFL gig he can get. He wants out.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:43 AM ^
Harbaugh doesn't seem to even care what the NFL job is. He just wants an NFL job.
and this coming from the depths of your imagination..... or was it reported by Barstool sports?
Its crazy to me the shit that people are coming up with. opinions are like earlobes, every asshole has two of them.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:40 AM ^
A lot of people on here will be just fine with him leaving. Not everyone propped him up as some Michigan Man Messiah. He is a football coach. If he wants to go, buh bye. There are plenty of other people who can do the job well.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
He better have. If he didn't, it was literally the stupidest possible way to save a couple million dollars in the short term. At the time, I (along with a lot of others here) thought it was no big deal coming off a 2-4 season where they basically shopped him around to the NFL before giving him a new deal. If on any level Warde thought Jim was the man for the job long term, it was pretty short sighted.
I really wonder if 2020 hadn't been a "contract year" (I know it technically wasn't, but no big time D-1 coach actually coaches the last year of their contract unless they want to be negatively recruited to death) if this would have played out completely differently.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:10 AM ^
I don't think he has a plan, so it will be Gattis promoted to HC. Not sure how that will work out but who knows, may be it will?
February 1st, 2022 at 9:21 AM ^
Please no.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
That would be a disaster. Gattis had a good 2021, many wanted him gone prior to the Maryland game
February 1st, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
2019: First year as full time OC.
2020: Bull shit year
2021: Broyles Award winner.
Also, you do not need to be an amazing coordinator to be HC. If it was that easy, we would see many more coaching hires pan out. Gattis is young, he is a good recruiter, he has enough experience, and people in the program more far more about him and his capabilities than anyone else. Acting like you know with certainty that it is a disaster is stupid.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^
Why do you think that the AD doesn't have a plan in place?
February 1st, 2022 at 9:52 AM ^
Does Gattis have a proven track record as a great recruiter? If he does, I haven't heard about it. If he doesn't, he should not be our next head coach. CFB is about cruitin!
February 1st, 2022 at 9:55 AM ^
Have you seen our WR depth chart?
Strongest position group on the team.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
From Gattis' hello post
Also, Gattis has the requisite recruiting rep:
On top of his coaching efforts, Gattis was also viewed as one of Alabama’s top recruiters. He helped the Crimson Tide land five-star defensive lineman Antonio Alfano as well as four-star receiver John Metchie and four-star defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe in this year’s class.
If seeing how deep our WR room is does not convince you he can recruit here is a link to his recruiting page. If you are not sure Gattis can recruit it is because you do not pay attention.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:11 AM ^
At the very least, i'd hope Jim had a sit down with Warde to put together a viable list of candidates to replace him in case he does get an NFL offer and that they are both comfortable that list of candidates will continue what Jim built. And I would hope he would extend a similar courtesy that Urban did for OSU and not pillage Michigan's assistants.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:14 AM ^
I doubt very much Harbaugh will have much of a say in what UM does upon his departure. He hasn’t earned that influence based upon his track record here.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^
Agreed
February 1st, 2022 at 9:45 AM ^
I'm more so talking about Jim extending the courtesy to assist in the succession plan rather than Warde or Michigan feeling obligated to include him.
Urban was able to groom a successor and their program didn't skip a beat even amongst the controversy surrounding Urban and the program at the time (he was also likely forced out). He didn't take any important staff with him to Jacksonville.
There are rumors that Jim would likely take three position coaches with him, Weiss, Jaybaugh and Helow. I think Weiss and Jaybaugh are two of our best assistants. We already lost Macdonald who I thought was our best coach. And it doesn't seem like he's necessarily been grooming someone like Gattis to take the reigns.
Do you know how you build success like OSU has. You have clear succession plans that continue the growth of the program not start it over.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:12 AM ^
Losing Jaybaugh and Helow would be a kick in the Nads. Weiss I do not know much about, but the other two sure helped transition this team in 2021.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
As Nick mentioned in a tweet, "he does not care."
https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/1488521080058875913?s=20&t=JmUXuoYTEOIPdCNcRFR2LA
February 1st, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
I need a vacation from Michigan football. Just when we beat OSU, we are in this current position...
I'm turning into an NFL fan because there is less BS than College.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:46 AM ^
Exactly why Harbaugh is turning to the NFL.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
Honestly, it's starting to feel like we need to rip the bandaid off with him going to the NFL. EVERY single year we go through this, and there's zero chance this isn't affecting recruiting and overall staff/player morale. From what I've read, he has on offer from us that isn't Tucker money, but money isn't the issue. You can argue it's NIL and transfer stuff, but it really seems like JH wants to be back in the NFL. I want him back, and when JH came here I really thought this was his dream job. But it really seems like this isn't.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:20 AM ^
NIL / Transfers / Head coach $ / etc..
Feels like you can draw a pretty straight line through all of these things and the connections is UM seems to only be willing to go so far in terms of $, admissions, access, etc. Which is fine and their choice to do but if we're all admitting that NCAAF is a bigger pain in the a$$ than NFL and on top of that you gotta deal with a half-hearted investment from the university in the other areas this sounds like the makings of a program that's choosing to be a second tier program and luring a top coach to that seems difficult.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
Admissions has been a thing forever and the rest isn’t true.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:33 AM ^
I'm not going to pretend like I know what's true behind closed doors but I have listened to guys like Sam, JUB, Spath, etc. repeatedly say that UM is taking the caution approach to all the things above. Just in the past week I heard "there's no way you give him a contract like Tuck".
Admissions is a thing because the UM chooses for it to be a thing.... same with NIL trepidation and hesitencey about contract $ when the U has an infamous money cannon when they wanna use it. They are choosing to govern themselves to a set of rules their competition simply isnt and as long as they do, they are playing at a disadvantage above and beyond the geographic disadvantage they can do nothing about.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
Well, you don’t give him a Tuck contract because neither made deserves such a contract. I have heard the opposite on NIL. That UM had a good NIL program setup.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
you "deserve" whatever the market dictates, good or bad. I don't think Franklin, Riley, Tucker, etc, "deserve" those contracts but if that's what it costs to get coaches to stay, then that's what it costs.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
Yea, its actually very true. Michigan isn't attacking NIL like they could be. We already have had the admissions barriers forever. We are willingly tying one hand behind our back. The playing field isn't equal.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:50 AM ^
You know this how?
February 1st, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
Then please site your source that we are.
Please show me that we are throwing around money like A&M or that our QBs are making over a million like Bama or OSU. Because if they were, it would be well documented on the internet. It's well know that A&M is throwing money around. That's no secret. It's also well known that OSUs third string QB last year was making over a million (he is now at Texas), and it's also well know that Bama's QB was over a million before the season started.
So if Michigan is doing the same, it would be widely reported. So please show me any shred of evidence that Michigan is playing ball that way.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
You are the one making claims. You show us.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:25 AM ^
https://brobible.com/sports/article/texas-am-recruiting-class-nil-money/
Learn to use the Google machine. These are the first three links I found by searching Bryce Young NIL, Quinn Ewers NIL, and Texas A&M NIL. Google shows hundreds of results for all three searches so if you don't like these you are welcome to dig for yourself. Now you please cite your sources that Michigan is equaling that kind of NIL effort.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
saying something isn't true.. is also making a claim. both require sourcing.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
As you noted, Quinn Ewers made over $1.4M in NIL money last year but didn't play a down of football for OSU. OSU itself recently reported that the entire athletic department collected $2.98M in NIL money, which means about 50% of all the money brought in by OSU athletics for their athletes went to one guy from Texas who is now gone.
Cade McNamara signed a deal with Tom Brady's brand. JJ McCarthy has signed some deals, as did Blake Corum, Hutchinson, and other prominent names. Jace Howard signed a deal with Lululemon. I don't have the link but UM's official NIL arm signed over $500k in deals last year for athletes. UM isn't leading the way but they're definitely making deals, and unlike some schools I think they're being smarter about not just throwing their athletes out there and possibly exposing them to some questionable partnerships (for example, I believe UMiami had to pull a deal with some entity because it wound up being tied to money laundering).
February 1st, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^
I didn't ask whether Michigan has done any NIL, of course they have. I specifically said are they attacking NIL like Bama, A&M, OSU.
You yourself have pointed out that even if we take out Quinn Ewers deal, OSU reported roughly 1.6M in NIL deals for their athletes. That's still 3 times what Michigan reported.
My point was the Michigan is playing with their hand tied behind their back because they aren't fully embracing NIL. They seem to be dipping their toe into the water. Michigan has a money cannon. The University doesn't have to do things in a shady way and still be the leaders and best. 500k to me is pathetic.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:07 AM ^
Because we all watched the UM-Georgia game (where they actively work to get the most elite players every year) and we saw Texas A&M out in Barren west Texas, with an 8-4 record, and being the 4th best team in their division, sign the best recruiting class in history.
No one is saying that no Michigan players are getting NIL deals, but we are all observing that the University is not willing to take it as seriously as Texas A&M is even when it is totally legal and within the means to do so.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
Well, A&M also finished 2020 #4 in the country so let's not act like they didn't have some recent success to drive off of.
Also, there's a fair bit of smoke around A&M being investigated for some NIL issues, as not everything is "totally legal".
UM is never going to be like A&M or that ilk when it comes to bending certain rules; that's life. If you can't handle it then I'd suggest find another team to root for. It may suck from a competitiveness setting but it's been the case for decades now and expecting them to flip a switch isn't likely.
February 1st, 2022 at 12:26 PM ^
That's fair enough. Where this whole conversation spun off of is Salvatore has been arguing that claims that A&M and Bama and OSU are spending more on NIL is baseless. His specific words are "isn't true", "you know this how".
Bronx, you are one of the better posters on this board and I appreciate your level headed response. This is probably just something that we see differently.
February 1st, 2022 at 6:37 PM ^
Texas A&M out in Barren west Texas
Not really west Texas, but it might as well be...