Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday he felt no disconnect between his staff or players last season, but cited his desire to “improve everything” to hire seven new assistants, including the defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
“I didn’t find any disconnection, but I wanted to be strong in all areas, improving everything,” Harbaugh said Thursday after Michigan’s first two spring workouts. “I would describe it that way. I didn’t feel there was a disconnect, no.”
Harbaugh completed the staff review Monday by hiring quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss, who worked for him at Stanford before spending the last 11 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens under Harbaugh’s brother, John.
Jim Harbaugh said he will work alongside Weiss and coach directly at the Michigan quarterbacks in 2021.
Macdonald also came from the Ravens, where he coached the last four defenders and defensive defenders.
The Wolverines won 2-4 last season – their first record of losses under Harbaugh, who had not had a losing season as a coach (NFL or college) since 2008 at Stanford (5-7).
Michigan replaced defensive coordinator Don Brown with 33-year-old Macdonald, and incorporated several young coaches: Maurice Linguist (36), defensive coordinator George Helow (34), security coach Ron Bellamy (39), Weiss (37) and runners coach Mike Hart (34), the program’s career leader.
“I’m really just looking for great coaches,” Harbaugh said. “That was what I was most looking for. … I feel like they are already advanced coaches for their age and definitely coaches who will do great things in this profession.”
Harbaugh sought many contributions to reshape his staff, but said he values his brother’s opinion more than any other coach’s. Macdonald has been working for the Ravens staff since 2014.
Although Harbaugh declined to specify what will change in defense as he moves from Brown to Macdonald, he has been pleased with the communication and energy of the new assistants.
“I have the right guys on board, working hard, training hard,” Harbaugh said. “I feel really good about where the staff is.”