The San Fransisco 49ers have parted ways with Coach Jim Harbaugh, and all signs are pointing to him becoming the next coach at Michigan.
Michigan has told its biggest boosters a deal for Jim Harbaugh is done and a press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2014Jim Harbaugh has agreed to take the Michigan job, per source. Done deal.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 29, 2014The reported deal is for $48 million over six years, which may sound like a lot for a college coach but after factoring in how much money the football program brings in, it isn’t out of line with the rest of the Big Ten powerhouses. For example, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education, the Wolverines football program generated $91.4 million in revenue and $6.5 million in expenses, leaving an estimated net revenue of $84.8 million. Harbaugh’s reported annual salary would then be 9.4 percent of that, which isn’t much, comparatively speaking.
The reported salary would be on the high end in terms of percentage of net revenue among the top paid college coaches.
Advertisement
And while high, having a former NFL head coach with 49 wins — including the playoffs — over four years will certainly be attractive on recruiting trips.
Jim Harbaugh's name alone has national recruiting appeal, success in the NFL and NCAA will attract recruits immediately. Visits will be key
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 29, 2014If he does go to the college ranks, Harbaugh will have his work cut out for him. According to the Simple Rating System, which places equal weight on each game and cares more about margin of victory than win-loss records, Michigan was 1.75 points per game better than an average college team, good for fifth best in the Big Ten Eastern division and 10th in the conference overall. That’s a far cry from Ohio State (18.1) and Michigan State (15.6), who are the two best teams in the Big Ten.
“I know whatever team he goes to, NFL or college, he’ll be fine,” said 49ers running back Frank Gore.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9JonZqmk656tMDArapor6Bkf3F9k2hoa2dibnyrtcxmn5qqkpbCqLSMoqpmr5%2Bnwal51qGYrWWdnrCptcaapWavmaG5br7EqaarrJWZubp5z5qwZqCZonw%3D