There's been talk that Jim Harbaugh hasn't signed his new deal because he's "waiting to see what NFL teams might come calling" on Black Monday. From everything we've heard, that's patently false, and we're not the only ones who think so, obviously. The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reported yesterday U-M is "optimistic" that the coach will be back on a five-year deal (it was initially going to be three, as we reported ... more on that below).
Harbaugh is making progress filling new assistant coach positions, and as we reported last week, there's a Tuesday meeting of coaches to announce the extension. As a result, Ben Herbert has chosen to stay at U-M rather than join Bret Bielema at Illinois. Others have also turned down other opportunities — as we reported, tight ends coach Sherrone Moore has had a few schools chasing him.
As we reported, the extension was initially expected to be Monday, but it was pushed back a day. There's strong belief that it was delayed to give Harbaugh more time to finalize deals with a new assistant or two and introduce them at the same meeting. As we've reported, a handful have been informed that Harbaugh has been saying it's "close" with Oregon assistant Joe Moorhead joining the staff.
Add another to that list yesterday. We can say with 100 percent certainty that this is a "thing" in that respect. People with a vested interest and who are in the loop have been made aware.
As for other reasons for the delay in signing ... "there's been a lot to talk about." The five years was important to Harbaugh to convince recruits and potential assistants he was serious about staying.
Yesterday, others with vested interest were told Tuesday was the day of the extension announcement "because an assistant coming on board is coaching in a Bowl Game today." Again, we know the Moorhead interest is real. We haven't heard much about Indiana running backs coach Mike Hart, though some have said "that's not out of the question."
As we reported, coach Jay Harbaugh is expected to move back to special teams only, so U-M would be in the market. As most know, Hart also coached yesterday in a loss to Ole Miss.
We got a tip this morning that Harbaugh offered a respected in-state high school coach to join his staff — following up, it appears to be true. It would have been a great addition, honestly, but family interests will prevent it, at least at this point.
We aren't sure what the role would have been, but we would have loved it.
There's been buzz created somewhere about Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker as a possibility. We can tell you he's not. A trusted Iowa source said a phone call was made, but it was a "take the temperature" type thing and Parker made it clear he wasn't interested in making a move (as nobody should have expected he'd be. The roots run deep in Iowa City).
We haven't heard anything else on the DC other than former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp's name has been brought up a few more times as a person of interest. He's now on Steve Sarkisian's radar at Texas, too, so that would be a tough pull.
Finally, it appears that Penn State defensive line transfer Antonio Shelton is strongly leaning toward Florida ... that if he hasn't pledged there, he will soon. U-M needs interior linemen, of course, and while PSU fans haven't been that high on him, he could have helped.
The in-division transfer would be a lot to ask, of course, though it's not unprecedented (see: Michigan center Zach Carpenter and Indiana).
We'll continue to provide more as we get it.
Harbaugh is making progress filling new assistant coach positions, and as we reported last week, there's a Tuesday meeting of coaches to announce the extension. As a result, Ben Herbert has chosen to stay at U-M rather than join Bret Bielema at Illinois. Others have also turned down other opportunities — as we reported, tight ends coach Sherrone Moore has had a few schools chasing him.
As we reported, the extension was initially expected to be Monday, but it was pushed back a day. There's strong belief that it was delayed to give Harbaugh more time to finalize deals with a new assistant or two and introduce them at the same meeting. As we've reported, a handful have been informed that Harbaugh has been saying it's "close" with Oregon assistant Joe Moorhead joining the staff.
Add another to that list yesterday. We can say with 100 percent certainty that this is a "thing" in that respect. People with a vested interest and who are in the loop have been made aware.
As for other reasons for the delay in signing ... "there's been a lot to talk about." The five years was important to Harbaugh to convince recruits and potential assistants he was serious about staying.
Yesterday, others with vested interest were told Tuesday was the day of the extension announcement "because an assistant coming on board is coaching in a Bowl Game today." Again, we know the Moorhead interest is real. We haven't heard much about Indiana running backs coach Mike Hart, though some have said "that's not out of the question."
As we reported, coach Jay Harbaugh is expected to move back to special teams only, so U-M would be in the market. As most know, Hart also coached yesterday in a loss to Ole Miss.
We got a tip this morning that Harbaugh offered a respected in-state high school coach to join his staff — following up, it appears to be true. It would have been a great addition, honestly, but family interests will prevent it, at least at this point.
We aren't sure what the role would have been, but we would have loved it.
There's been buzz created somewhere about Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker as a possibility. We can tell you he's not. A trusted Iowa source said a phone call was made, but it was a "take the temperature" type thing and Parker made it clear he wasn't interested in making a move (as nobody should have expected he'd be. The roots run deep in Iowa City).
We haven't heard anything else on the DC other than former South Carolina coach Will Muschamp's name has been brought up a few more times as a person of interest. He's now on Steve Sarkisian's radar at Texas, too, so that would be a tough pull.
Finally, it appears that Penn State defensive line transfer Antonio Shelton is strongly leaning toward Florida ... that if he hasn't pledged there, he will soon. U-M needs interior linemen, of course, and while PSU fans haven't been that high on him, he could have helped.
The in-division transfer would be a lot to ask, of course, though it's not unprecedented (see: Michigan center Zach Carpenter and Indiana).
We'll continue to provide more as we get it.
Last edited:
