Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh has officially signed a five-year extension the features a lower base salary and heavy incentives.
Harbaugh, 57, whose original seven-year deal was set to expire after the 2021 season, signed the new deal on Friday, a source confirmed to The Detroit News. A formal announcement is expected Friday.
Several sources told The News on Thursday the new contract includes incentives for reaching championship benchmarks like winning a Big Ten championship and a national championship. The extension also has a smaller buyout.
He entered the 2020 season as the only FBS coach with fewer than two years remaining on his contract. Harbaugh has coached six seasons (49-22) at his alma mater.
Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel began discussions about his future with the Wolverines on Dec. 17. Shortly after that initial meeting, Michigan parted ways with defensive coordinator Don Brown on Dec. 22 after five seasons.
In November, Harbaugh was asked about his future at Michigan considering NFL rumors suggesting he might return to coaching in the league.
“Again, it’s your willingness and interest in listening to what they say,” Harbaugh said at that time. “I don’t really have anything to say because I don’t have any real interest in listening to that kind of stuff. I think you know me by now. I always let the actions speak for what you have to say. I’ve always thought this, that your actions speak so loudly that people can’t even hear what you’re saying.
"I’ll let the actions speak as they have in the past.”
He was asked if the interpretation of his actions suggest that he intends to coach at Michigan for a long time.
“Yeah, those are the actions,” Harbaugh said. “And no matter what I say to you, I’ve been here for five and a half, almost six years, and I’ve experienced this, (that) no matter what I say, the next day, something else is said or the next year the same thing comes up.”
These comments came in the midst of what would be a dismal 2-4 season for the Wolverines. Harbaugh and several of his players fought hard to play in the 2020 in the COVID-19-shortened Big Ten season. But the season they wanted, did not go as they had hoped. They canceled the final three games, including against arch-rival Ohio State, because of COVID-19 issues.
As Michigan’s coach, Harbaugh has gone winless in five games against Ohio State and is 3-3 against Michigan State.
The Wolverines are 2-12 against top-10 teams. Michigan under Harbaugh has gone 49-22 overall in six season and 34-16 in the Big Ten.
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