Jim Harbaugh is handsomely paid as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines and, since taking over the program, the university has spared no expense in helping him to construct an impressive (and highly paid) staff of assistant coaches. With that in mind, Alex Marvez of the Sporting News brings word that a change that seems out of the ordinary is coming, as Harbaugh is reportedly parting ways with strength and conditioning coach Kevin Tolbert for the 2018 season.
Tolbert has been on the scene at Michigan for the entirety of Harbaugh's tenure as the head coach and the two had a previous relationship before Ann Arbor. Tolbert worked for Harbaugh both at Stanford and at the NFL level in San Francisco. In addition, Tolbert has a pre-Harbaugh history in Ann Arbor in the strength program and, while the report does not outline a specific rationale for the move, it is certainly something of a surprise.
2018 is seen as a (very) big season for Harbaugh and company, with talent aligning for Michigan to make a real run in the Big Ten and the potential presence of Shea Patterson (who will transfer to Ann Arbor) as an immediately eligible quarterback. The heat is on and, apparently, that is manifesting in a move on the staff.
