There are two constants so far in Jim Harbaugh’s head-coaching career. He wins big, usually right away. And he doesn’t stay very long.
Harbaugh is unquestionably a grand-slam hire for Michigan, perhaps the only coach guaranteed to bring the Wolverines back to immediate national relevance. Maize and Blue fans are right to be deliriously happy he’s coming back to Ann Arbor. Just as long as they realize he might not exactly put down roots.
Harbaugh is returning to college from the NFL ranks just as Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino, Steve Spurrier and others once did. But there’s one key difference here. Unlike those guys, who mostly failed at the next level before running back to campus, Harbaugh remains in high demand in the pro ranks. He's a proven winner there. So NFL teams will surely come calling again in the future. In fact, Michigan fans might have to prepare for near-annual Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors, and eventually some pro team with a highly favorable situation could lure him away.
Those who know Harbaugh say he badly wants to win a Super Bowl someday, especially after coming so close in 2013 -- and losing to his brother, no less. Harbaugh is more competitive than just about anybody you’ve ever met or who was ever born on this planet, so of course he’s hungry for the ultimate challenge in football.
His previous track record also suggests that he’s often eager to move on to the next obstacle.
Harbaugh spent three years at his first head-coaching stop at San Diego, leaving there for Stanford after posting back-to-back 11-win seasons. He built the Cardinal up from a Pac-12 also-ran to a spot in the Orange Bowl in just four seasons before jumping to the San Francisco 49ers. That career trajectory isn’t that unusual, as each coaching stop was a step up. Michigan looks like much more of a destination job, especially for an alumnus -- and true Michigan Man, even if that phrase has thankfully been retired -- like Harbaugh.
But it’s also true that Harbaugh tends to burn bright and leave some flaming embers in his wake. There is a reason, after all, that the 49ers were more than willing to let him leave for Michigan with a year left on his contract, even though he had led them to a Super Bowl and three NFC title games since 2011. He clearly had worn out his welcome with the front office and many of the players with his unique personality. (If you haven’t yet read this Harbaugh profile by Seth Wickersham, do so immediately.)
There are also many stories of Harbaugh clashing with Stanford administrators over admissions policies and other issues. Our sympathies in advance to any Michigan higher-ups who try to tell their new coach no on something.
Harbaugh’s style will undoubtedly work better in college, where the roster turns over too quickly for players to tune out the motivational ploys and where tyrannical coaches are nothing new. Stanford put up with Harbaugh’s ways and probably would have for many more years because he so drastically enhanced that program. The Wolverines likely will, too, since they’re so hungry to get back to winning championships.
But we’re not even sure yet who Harbaugh’s boss will be, as Michigan lacks a permanent athletic director right now. It’s a safe bet that Harbaugh will have more power than whoever winds up in the AD’s chair, which will be a role reversal from his predecessor’s situation.
Who knows? Maybe Harbaugh will become so enamored of being back in Ann Arbor that he’ll follow in his father’s footsteps; Jack Harbaugh coached Western Kentucky for 14 seasons. Yet little in the younger Harbaugh’s personality or résumé suggests he’s someone who likes standing in the same place for very long.
These are only mild words of caution, by the way. Remember when Ohio State hired Urban Meyer? The lone negative voices at the time were those saying that Meyer would be a short-timer in Columbus. That doesn’t really appear to be the case anymore, but even if Meyer decided to retire tomorrow, there are no Buckeye fans who would regret the three division titles, 24-0 Big Ten regular-season record, one BCS game and a spot in the College Football Playoff just because their coach didn’t stay for decades.
In the same way, Michigan fans should gladly accept however much time they get with Harbaugh, because it’s likely to be a highly enjoyable ride. Just don’t be surprised if it's a short one.