A new era is upon the Michigan Wolverines — the Sherrone Moore era. And the Moore era will be an extension of the Jim Harbaugh era.
Harbaugh departed to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers last week all while putting the program in a position to succeed moving forward. Harbaugh’s departure comes after Michigan just won a national championship and the program has a solid foundation.
“Coach, love ya,” Moore said, mentioning Harbaugh at his introductory press conference. “Got your back, I’m going to continue this the right way.”
Harbaugh has been adamant for quite some time that Moore is a rising star in the coaching profession and bound to be a head coach, and now he is. Moore was 4-0 this season as interim head coach when Harbaugh was serving suspensions. Moore was at the helm for key wins against Penn State and Ohio State and showed he can win at the highest of stages. Harbaugh passing the torch to Moore, someone Harbaugh believes in and trusts, a coach the players seem to love, lessens any negative impacts related to Harbaugh’s departure. Unlike Alabama and Washington who both had head coaching vacancies spring up due to Nick Saban’s retirement at Alabama and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer replacing Saban, Michigan hasn’t had a mass exodus via the transfer portal like they have. And that has everything to do with the foundation and tone Harbaugh set at Michigan.
Sure, former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert is leaving with Harbaugh, and reportedly defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and special teams coordinator/safeties coach Jay Harbaugh are as well. However, Harbaugh’s winning culture as well as most of the Michigan staff will be staying in Ann Arbor long into Harbaugh’s tenure with the Chargers.
Harbaugh leaving for the NFL after a national championship wasn’t the least bit surprising. He accomplished the biggest thing he could have for the Wolverines, bringing them their first outright national championship since 1948. Harbaugh, now 60, has been very clear about his love for the NFL.
“It was tough,” Harbaugh said. “I was torn, my wife, kids. I love Michigan. I love the NFL, too. And there’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football,” Harbaugh said at the Chiefs vs. Ravens AFC Championship Game on Sunday. “And I got so many sands left in the hourglass. And I wanna take a crack at that.”
“Jim has always been extremely upfront with his communication regarding NFL opportunities and has been helpful with this transition in leadership,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said last week.
Harbaugh being helpful with the transition isn’t standard practice in college football, what is commonplace is a coach exiting and burning bridges on their way out.
For example, weeks before Brian Kelly departed Notre Dame for LSU, he denied rumors he had any interest in leaving Notre Dame.
“No,” Kelly said. “I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right? Unless the fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at that first. I’d have to run it by her.”
Then Kelly’s players were shocked to see news on social media that Kelly was taking the LSU job — Kelly called a team meeting the next morning for 7 A.M. The Athletic’s Pete Sampson reported “Kelly’s address to the team lasted less than two minutes, then he turned around and walked out. He did not take questions from the players.”
Then there’s Lincoln Riley, who left Oklahoma via plane in the middle of the night to Los Angeles to become USC’s next head coach in November of 2021. Multiple Oklahoma staff members made the plane trip with Riley and became part of his USC staff.
A new era is upon the Michigan Wolverines — the Sherrone Moore era. And the Moore era will be an extension of the Jim Harbaugh era.
Harbaugh departed to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers last week all while putting the program in a position to succeed moving forward. Harbaugh’s departure comes after Michigan just won a national championship and the program has a solid foundation.
“Coach, love ya,” Moore said, mentioning Harbaugh at his introductory press conference. “Got your back, I’m going to continue this the right way.”
Harbaugh has been adamant for quite some time that Moore is a rising star in the coaching profession and bound to be a head coach, and now he is. Moore was 4-0 this season as interim head coach when Harbaugh was serving suspensions. Moore was at the helm for key wins against Penn State and Ohio State and showed he can win at the highest of stages. Harbaugh passing the torch to Moore, someone Harbaugh believes in and trusts, a coach the players seem to love, lessens any negative impacts related to Harbaugh’s departure. Unlike Alabama and Washington who both had head coaching vacancies spring up due to Nick Saban’s retirement at Alabama and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer replacing Saban, Michigan hasn’t had a mass exodus via the transfer portal like they have. And that has everything to do with the foundation and tone Harbaugh set at Michigan.
Sure, former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert is leaving with Harbaugh, and reportedly defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and special teams coordinator/safeties coach Jay Harbaugh are as well. However, Harbaugh’s winning culture as well as most of the Michigan staff will be staying in Ann Arbor long into Harbaugh’s tenure with the Chargers.
Harbaugh leaving for the NFL after a national championship wasn’t the least bit surprising. He accomplished the biggest thing he could have for the Wolverines, bringing them their first outright national championship since 1948. Harbaugh, now 60, has been very clear about his love for the NFL.
“It was tough,” Harbaugh said. “I was torn, my wife, kids. I love Michigan. I love the NFL, too. And there’s no Lombardi Trophy in college football,” Harbaugh said at the Chiefs vs. Ravens AFC Championship Game on Sunday. “And I got so many sands left in the hourglass. And I wanna take a crack at that.”
“Jim has always been extremely upfront with his communication regarding NFL opportunities and has been helpful with this transition in leadership,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said last week.
Harbaugh being helpful with the transition isn’t standard practice in college football, what is commonplace is a coach exiting and burning bridges on their way out.
For example, weeks before Brian Kelly departed Notre Dame for LSU, he denied rumors he had any interest in leaving Notre Dame.
“No,” Kelly said. “I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right? Unless the fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at that first. I’d have to run it by her.”
Then Kelly’s players were shocked to see news on social media that Kelly was taking the LSU job — Kelly called a team meeting the next morning for 7 A.M. The Athletic’s Pete Sampson reported “Kelly’s address to the team lasted less than two minutes, then he turned around and walked out. He did not take questions from the players.”
Then there’s Lincoln Riley, who left Oklahoma via plane in the middle of the night to Los Angeles to become USC’s next head coach in November of 2021. Multiple Oklahoma staff members made the plane trip with Riley and became part of his USC staff.
