Posted on Thu, Dec 10, 2009 : 4:04 p.m.
Jim Harbaugh hires his father, Jack Harbaugh, to coach at bowl game
By AnnArbor.com Staff
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Stanford will have a second Harbaugh on the coaching staff for the Sun Bowl. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday that he's hired his dad, Jack, to be the interim running backs coach for the Cardinal's first bowl game since 2001. He replaces Willie Taggart, who was hired last month as the head coach at Western Kentucky, his alma mater.
Jack Harbaugh, a former assistant coach at Michigan, has previously coached at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky, where he won a national championship in what was Division I-AA. Stanford (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10) faces Oklahoma (7-6, 5-3 Big 12) on Dec. 30 in the Sun Bowl in El Paso.
Comments
oldmanblue
Sun, Dec 13, 2009 : 7:12 p.m.
Tru2Blu26: I know all about Jim Harbaugh and his family. He spoke to my class at St. Francis when I was in 1st grade. I cheered for him as a child as a Michigan Wolverine and in the NFL. Three years ago he made it public knowledge to me and others that my degree was nothing special. He also said our players had no placement in the job market after school if athletics don't pan out.
Sean T.
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 9:19 a.m.
Maybe RR will hire the Family from "Wrong Turn" to coach against Valdosta State next year.
tomhagan
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 6:09 p.m.
Classy move by Jim. His father is an experienced coach on all levels. Coaching is in their blood in that family. What a support system they have built for every coach and family member.
81wolverine
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 8:22 a.m.
There IS a lot of hype about Jim Harbaugh's coaching ability -both locally and nationally. The reality is that he still is NOT seasoned as a head coach. He was HC at University of San Diego for 3 years, and now has been a head coach at Stanford for only 3 years. And I would not classify Stanford as a high-profile, major football power. They don't have nearly the budget, fan-base, high profile, and media attention that U-M does. So, my point is that, it's certainly no "given" that Harbaugh could come in here and return us to the glory days. Harbaugh also has a tendency to speak before thinking about the repercussions of what he says. At a school like Michigan where everything the coach says is micro-analyzed and critiqued, that could get him into trouble. That being said, he has a lot of good qualities that could potentially make him an excellent coach here if the opportunity arises. At least he would be very strongly considered.
PortageLkBlu
Thu, Dec 10, 2009 : 10:08 p.m.
The only real positive about Jim Harbaugh that I can see or I hear about is that he did a pretty darn good job as QB at Mich. several years ago. He had a good year at Stanford and he seems to be headed in the right direction at least he seems to be. Some folks talk about him like there is no doubt he can take Mich. to the promised land and I for one just don't see it. Maybe Jim is that coach but at this time I just can't see it like I said, maybe. I believe in RR for our future and that is based on what I know. There are those of you that don't like RR and so be it nothing I or anyone else can say will change your minds just like there are those of you that didn't think the last 3 coaches were all that great outside the big 10 box it's a matter of opinion I would suggest patience but then again it's your gig one way or another. College football has changed a great deal since Bo retired and even before LC retired LLoyd made a comment before he retired that,"Maybe the game has passed me by". I think it was a correct personal assessment and I appreciate his honesty becuase the game has sped up a great deal which is what RR is trying to bring to Mich. not something done overnight.
oldmanblue
Thu, Dec 10, 2009 : 4:37 p.m.
Great, thanks for keeping us current on Stanford football.