The resolution on Jim Harbaugh will be signed for a contract extension, as Michigan’s football coach relies on one man: Jim Harbaugh.
That resolution may come as early as Monday or be extended, but the university expects a resolution this week.
Harbaugh submitted a multi-year contract extension, but no extensions were signed Saturday night, other people familiar with the scene told the Free Press. People spoke on condition of anonymity because it was not legal to speak to the media about the discussions.
The agreement, originally presented as a three-year extension, would take effect on January 11. It is the day that each year of Harbaugh’s contract began since he was hired in 2014.
Other media reports hint at the proposed five-year extension. Harbaugh still has one year on his contract.
Harbaugh has yet to signal him as he’s waiting to see if any NFL groups are interested in him as head coach.
The answer to this can come quickly.
The NFL season ends on Sunday and Monday is when the league’s head coaches are fired.
There are already several openings in the NFL, adding with the Detroit Lions, however Harbaugh is interested in the New York Jets. Adam Gase, the Jets head coach who has won two games this season, would be fired after Sunday’s final.
Harbaugh is also said to be interested in the Los Angeles Chargers position, opens up. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is 32-31 in 4 seasons starting Sunday.
Harbaugh’s resume is littered with past stoppages at school and professional coaching positions in California, adding 4 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, which led to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season.
If Harbaugh doesn’t pique the teams’ interest, he is expected to re-sign with Michigan.
No one knows what Harbaugh plans to do – he’s known to keep his decision-making process close to his own vest.
What we do know is that he has an offer from Michigan to continue training there. Athletic director Warde Manuel has made the extension offer and has no plans to fire Harbaugh this year, other people told Free Press. University officials left the resolution to Manuel. No one is advocating for Harbaugh’s return, but no one would block Manuel if he makes up his mind to let Harbaugh go.
The team went 2-4 this season and was disappointed by Michigan State, defeated by Indiana for the first time in 33 years and suffered the most asymmetric loss of houses since 1935 in a terrible case opposite Wisconsin. The team played its classic rivalry game opposite Ohio State’s because the positive COVID-19 test, touch tracing and other injuries left the team without enough players to compete.
This season, Harbaugh set out to earn $ 8,036,179, making him the fourth-highest-paid coach in school soccer, according to USA TODAY Sports. This includes an annual life insurance premium of $ 2 million while you are a coach through December 6, 2020. But your base salary and additional reimbursement have been reduced by 10% due to the pandemic.
Harbaugh, 57, was hired just after the 2014 season and is 49-22 in six seasons. However, Michigan was unsuccessful in the Big Ten Championship game with Harbaugh, it is 0-5 against Ohio State and 3-3 against Michigan State.
The extension would give Harbaugh a lower base salary than he has lately and a lower number of acquisitions, making it less difficult to be fired next year if necessary, according to others with knowledge of the situation.
Free Press Sports contributed Orion Sang. Follow David Jesse on Twitter @reporterdavidj.