From the moment he set foot in Ann Arbor to claim the head coaching job in 2015, Jim Harbaugh has been the subject of whispers about his eventual exit. That comes with the territory considering his highly volatile personality and history (i.e. with the San Francisco 49ers), but given that Michigan is his alma mater, things just might be different this time around.
Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com brings word from Harbaugh (via a SiriusXM Radio interview earlier this week) that the head coach actually is planning to be in Ann Arbor for the duration of his career:
"Yeah I think that way. I think, God willing and the creek don't rise, that'll happen. I love coaching, I love football and I love the University of Michigan.
"You hope to go as long as you can and you're still doing it by example and not just through anecdote and you're still able to do that as long as the good lord will allow you to do it."
Harbaugh loves the "creek don't rise" quote, but this is yet another instance where he pours water on any thought that Michigan is just a stepping stone job. Yes, Harbaugh could easily entertain NFL offers in the future, but he is handsomely paid at Michigan without having to face the issue of "burnout" with players in the same way (given the college turnover) and there is no question this is a top-tier collegiate position.
Jim Harbaugh loves Michigan football and everything is going well in Ann Arbor right now. Why would he leave?
