By final depend, there are 5 head coach openings throughout the NFL. Relying on what the New England Patriots determine to do with Invoice Belichick, that quantity may quickly attain six.
If the Pats are sensible, they’ll guarantee it does. As a result of the most popular teaching candidate in a very long time may very well be hitting the open market, and it gained’t be the six-time Tremendous Bowl champion coach they’ll be trying to change.
After main Michigan to its first nationwide championship since 1997, Jim Harbaugh appears more likely to bolt the school recreation for the professionals. And when he does, each group in want of a coach ought to be banging down his door for an interview.
Harbaugh, 60, isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, however he’s a winner and his resume speaks for itself. He’s had success at actually each cease. Six 10-win seasons in 9 years at Michigan, culminating on this 12 months’s 15-0 report and nationwide championship. He broke the single-season wins report at Stanford, going 12-1 his closing 12 months in 2010. And in contrast to so many “school coaches,” he can do it within the execs. Harbaugh went 44-19 in 4 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, reaching the playoffs three time and main them to Tremendous Bowl 47.
That’s earlier than we get to how a lot his gamers and employees love him. As responsible as Michigan seemed to be within the sign-stealing scandal, the group rallied round Harbaugh’s three-game suspension and handled the coach like a martyr. Interim coach and offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore was in tears talking about how a lot he cherished Harbaugh after their first win with out him. Your complete group spoke glowingly of how they needed to proceed profitable for him.
I witnessed it firsthand, after their second recreation with out Harbaugh, when the proper season almost got here to a disappointing finish towards Maryland. I believed the vitality the group devoted to the top coach was unsustainable, detrimental even. A possible distraction. I didn’t suppose his trigger was value placing a lot ardour behind. However to them it was. He was. And so they stored profitable. They gained all of it.
For years, it all the time appeared like Harbaugh was flirting with the concept of returning to the NFL. And he all the time had a group or two keen to entertain what was seemingly solely a play for leverage in negotiations with Michigan. This time, although, the rumors really feel actual. The NCAA is respiration down his neck. School soccer is totally completely different than it was when he began. All indicators level to now being the time he makes the bounce. Any group even remotely not sure about their present head coach ought to be in sizzling pursuit.
Harbaugh has made each group he’s ever coached higher.
