Jim Harbaugh has reached a contract extension to continue as Michigan football coach during the 2025 season, athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday.
A source confirmed to ESPN that the new deal includes a lower base salary and many incentives for performance. Harbaugh had one year left on his initial contract in Michigan, which paid the coach just over $ 8 million in 2020.
“I continue to believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in search of Big Ten and CFP championships,” Manuel said in a statement. “Our program did not reach a level that no one expected this year, but I know that these setbacks will push coaches, players and staff forward. Jim is a tireless worker and competitor. After the end of the season, we talking for many hours about how long it will take Jim to lead us and get back on track. “
Michigan and Harbaugh began arguing over a new contract after the team’s regular season ended in November. Harbaugh spent much of the last few weeks vacationing in California, but returned to Ann Arbor this week, a source said.
In a statement, Harbaugh thanked Manuel and the president of the university, Mark Schlissel, among others.
“Over the past few weeks, Warde and I have had honest, open, insightful, and constructive discussions to move forward on our football program. Discussions that I hope to continue in the coming months and years,” Harbaugh said. “We have a plan.
“There is work to be done and challenges to be solved. These challenges are being addressed as we continue to strive for excellence in the classroom and field championships, a message I hope will be reflected in the language of our agreed contract. “
The Wolverines finished the 2020 season 2-4, canceling their last three games due to concerns about COVID-19 within the program.
Harbaugh, a former star quarterback in Michigan, is 49-22 in six seasons at school and 34-16 in the Big Ten, but arrives by far his worst season at his alma mater. Michigan won 10 games and finished in the top 15 in three of its first four seasons, but has yet to defeat rival Ohio State and has dropped four games in a row.
Michigan fired defensive coordinator Don Brown last month and six more attendees have contracts that expire Sunday.
The school said in its statement that Harbaugh was “in the process of evaluating and assembling its staff for the 2021. season.”
ESPN’s Dan Murphy contributed to this report.