College football’s top 25 highest-paid coaches for 2020 season
By Nick Villano
4. Jim Harbaugh – Michigan
- 2020 Salary: $8 million
This one is always going to get people talking. Jim Harbaugh is the highest-paid coach to have never won a National Championship. He left the NFL after things went sour with the San Francisco 49ers, and he immediately went to his alma matter when they had an opening. Maybe he didn’t want to go to college, but who in the NFL was going to give him $8 million at the time?
The Wolverines came with a Godfather offer and he couldn’t refuse it. For his massive salary, Harbaugh has given Michigan, one tie for first place in the Big Ten East, one top-10 finish (10th in 2016), averaging more than two losses a year in the Big Ten play, and most importantly, an 0-5 record against Ohio State. Harbaugh gets amazing talent to come to Michigan, but they just can’t push it over the top.
Michigan’s recruiting ranks as follows (according to 247Sports) 2016-8th, 2017-5th, 2018-22nd, 2019-8th, 2020-14th. That is some really good consistency from a team that hasn’t ever made the College Football Playoff. The expectations are through the roof in Ann Arbor, but it’s time for them to live up to those expectations. Maybe the maize and blue expect a little too much, but when the team has that kind of talent, it’s time to make the most of it.
Michigan can get out of this contract for nothing if they are willing to wait two more seasons. In December 2021, the two parties can either decide to negotiate an extension or terminate the contract. We’ll see if Harbaugh’s seat continues to stay hot. It likely all depends if he can get by another loaded Buckeyes team.