Brodie

February 5th, 2024 at 1:59 PM ^

Worth noting, though rarely reported on, that Jay was adopted by Jim from a prior relationship his first wife had. His other kids from the first marriage are like 10ish+ years younger than Jay. 

Not that this really matters at all, just some context for the especially large gap with Jay 

FrankMurphy

February 5th, 2024 at 2:24 PM ^

Really. I had no idea about that. I remember thinking that Jay doesn't really resemble Jim at all, so I guess that explains it. The fact that Jim continued to treat him as his son after things ended between him and Miah speaks to Jim's character and integrity.

Another fun fact: at the time of the 'Harbaugh Bowl' in 2013, Jay was a 22 year-old intern on John's Ravens staff, which means that Jay helped his uncle beat his father in the Super Bowl. 

drjaws

February 5th, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^

surprised no one’s mentioned it’s a good move for Jay.  get out of his dads shadow and prove himself without the whiff of nepotism 

Malum In Se

February 5th, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^

Good luck to him. Jay was the rare nepotism hire who turned out to be a very good recruiter and coach at a variety of positions on the staff. His future seems bright

OldSchoolWolverine

February 5th, 2024 at 1:45 PM ^

I reckon he will be head coach here a decade from now.

We need to replace his recruiting acumen.  He found some real gems west of the Mississippi, like Haskins, Asiasi, Charbonnet, Loveland, etc. 

SF Wolverine

February 5th, 2024 at 1:50 PM ^

Likely the best move for him.  Time to see how he stacks up when his dad is not his boss.  From everything we've seen at Michigan, I expect he will do really well.

Romeo50

February 5th, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^

Might be a good sales pitch to recruits that the level of coaching is NFL caliber and repeats. I guess some schools like staying with guys the NFL is leery of since they use PI's to take down their superior opponents. Sad.

On a side note Ryan Day, his brothers and a Penguin hop/waddle into an NCAA office...

erald01

February 5th, 2024 at 3:28 PM ^

Good luck to Jay and hopefully he turns out to be like his dad. You did not hear much of him, but he was the reason for some of the top recruits we pulled in and he adapted really well in every position job he held.

Parkinen

February 5th, 2024 at 3:49 PM ^

I am always surprised at these guys who ascend within the football ranks and who have apparently never played a snap of college or pro ball.  Although with Jay, he has obviously had some damn good mentors/teachers.  Mike Riley at Oregon for 4 years, John at the Ravens for 4 years and his Dad for the last 9.  But still.  Although, I suspect, that through osmosis you could pick up some incredible tips at the Harbaugh Thanksgiving table.  

DonAZ

February 5th, 2024 at 6:32 PM ^

As I understand it, Jedd Fisch never played football either.  I think some experience playing the game is helpful, but at the same time, I think people who were unusually successful at playing often make poor coaches.  The reason (my theory) is that they are naturally gifted athletically, and they often can't understand why lesser mortals can't do what they themselves found easy.  Exceptions exist, of course, but in general I think that's true. 

The same may be true of those who didn't play: their learning the game started with a blank sheet of paper (so to speak), and so they had to come to understand a lot early just to get started with the game, and they remember learning the basics, so they are better at teaching the basics.