The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1490206
66 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2023 "I just got off the phone with Coach Harbaugh and Jim shared with me the great news that he is going to remain as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. This is fantastic news that I have com- municated to our athletic director Warde Manuel. #GoBlue!" J ust like that, with this tweet from new Michigan president Santa Ono on Monday, Jan. 16, Harbaugh Watch 2023 came to an end. The Michigan coach had been flirting with the NFL again, interviewed with Denver and emerged as a serious candi- date before informing the Broncos he'd be staying at Michigan. It won't officially be over un- til he signs a new deal, but that's coming. It's one that will pay Harbaugh what he's worth — sources say it will be one of the top five contracts in the country with a significant buyout — and that it should limit future NFL talk. No matter what else is rumored, two things appear true. One — he absolutely deserves it. People can call him "diffi- cult," or "quirky," whatever. The fact is, he's proven to be one of the best coaches of his era, and at every level. His players graduate, and they love him. He and sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy put it on display after the Big Ten title game win over Purdue during the postgame press conference. "I [won't] speak for them, but I think they like the direction of the program," Harbaugh said. "They like the program. They like the opportunity in the pro- gram, and I like them back a lot. I'm proud of them … so proud of them. "And not just talking about J.J. and Donovan [Edwards, next to him at the table], but talking about the entire squad … every guy, to a man. So, I'll probably step out and let you talk to these guys. Otherwise, I'll get a little emotional [laughing]. Is that OK?" "We love you, Coach," McCarthy said as Harbaugh stepped away. "Love you," Harbaugh responded. And with that, he proceeded to let his players finish the presser. Say what you want about Harbaugh. Don't ever say he doesn't put his play- ers first. NEW PRESIDENT MAKES AN IMPACT The second thing we know (or at least strongly believe) … This deal probably doesn't get done without Ono's involvement. Rumors of strained relationships among others aside, this negotiation needed a fresh set of eyes from a leader committed to athletics. In his four months, Ono has shown more understanding of the importance of the relationship between athletics and academics than most of his prede- cessors combined, and certainly more than Mark Schlissel, the last full-time predecessor. We'll give a nod to Mary Sue Coleman, too — she was outstand- ing during her tenure, and filled in as the interim when Schlissel was relieved of his duties — but former Cincinnati and University of British Columbia presi- dent Ono has taken it to another level. Athletics — usually a highly success- ful football or basketball program — have been called "the front door to the university" in the past. Right or wrong, it increases visibility and entices students interested in ex- tracurricular activities in addition to academics. Thirty years ago, in the Fab Five era, applications and royal- ties rose dramatically when Ju- wan Howard and Co. dominated the college basketball landscape. Kids wanted to be part of it, and it raised the university's profile. Ono has made it known every- where he's been just how much he understands that, so it was no surprise that — by all accounts — he was a huge reason this deal got done. We asked someone directly in- volved in hiring him if he was this involved in all aspects of the uni- versity. The response — an unequivocal "yes." "Amazing," they simply said after witnessing Ono's first four months on the job, including also navigating the new Harbaugh contract and influencing name, image and likeness (NIL) prog- ress. Some have wondered what this means for Manuel and his future, or if a "mes- sage" was sent with Ono's tweet. That we don't know. But we do know Man- uel leads one of the strongest athletics departments in the country, winning championships at an unprecedented clip, and his student-athletes have had incredible success in the classroom, too. He should have every opportunity to continue to build on that. It's clear, though, that his boss will demand that of not just Manuel, but everyone else in every position at the university … which is exactly what he should do. It's "Leaders and Best" for a reason, and it certainly seems Michigan is in good hands in its pursuit with Ono at the helm. ❏ Chris Balas has been with The Wolver- ine since 1997. Contact him at cbalas@ thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Balas_Wolverine. INSIDE MICHIGAN CHRIS BALAS Santa Delivers Most Important Gift First-year President Santa Ono has taken a proactive, hands- on leadership approach across all aspects of the University of Michigan, including athletics. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN