Jim Harbaugh's Challenge

 Jim Harbaugh, the University of Michigan’s football coach, has a problem. Coach Harbaugh was hired by the Wolverines at the end of 2014. He was expected to be the Savior and return the University’s football team to glory- beat OSU. References include Bo’s Warriors - Bo Schembechler and the Transformation of Michigan Football; and personal communication with coach Harbaugh and significant others. A few facts: 1. 21 Wolverines have been drafted by the NFL under coach Harbaugh from 2016-2019. However, coach Harbaugh did not recruit all these players 2. From 2016 -2019, the Wolverines had 4 NFL round 1 draft picks selected 3. Jim Harbaugh was selected by the NFL in round 1 in 1987 4. From 2016-2019 the Ohio State Buckeyes had 35 players drafted by the NFL 5. From 2016-2019, the Buckeyes had 12 NFL round 1 players selected.

Jim Harbaugh was born December 23, 1963 in Toledo, Ohio the second of two boys. At that time, his father Jack was an assistant football coach at a nearby high school. Having a father as a football coach, resulted in a number of relocations. In 1973, the family moved to Ann Arbor when Jack was hired by Coach Bo Schembechler to become a defensive backfield coach. Young Jim was seen being on the Wolverine football field chasing footballs, being around the coaches and their players, and learned firsthand about the illustrious, successful and dominant Wolverines.

It’s not hard to imagine that Jim’s competitiveness was reinforced by his father and older brother John. More than likely, Jim’s fantasies, imagination, dreams, wishes and ideal was related to sports, being a hero, and competing in the macho sport of football. With competitiveness, the fear of failure emerges. For example, one competitor stated “the first loser is coming in second place.”

Briefly, Jim attained All-American honors as a University of Michigan football quarterback under coach Schembechler; came in third in the Heisman trophy voting ; quarterbacked in the NFL from 1987 through 2001; achieved  numerous NFL honors; won awards as a head football college coach; and was one of the most celebrated San Francisco 49ers head coaches. In essence, Jim was a most successful and competitive football player at all levels as well as a most successful football coach at all levels. In other words, his childhood fantasies, dreams, wishes and ideals were realized.

Coach Harbaugh was expected by all to be successful against the Wolverines number one rival the Ohio State Buckeyes. Unfortunately, these expectations are enormous as the Buckeyes were coached by one of the most respected and winningest college coaches of all time-Urban Meyer. Coach Meyer attained 3 national championships. His Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was a Heisman trophy winner in 2007.

Not only has coach Harbaugh  not beaten his number one rival Ohio State , his San Francisco 49ers team was beaten on February 3, 2013 by his older brother John’s team -the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl. Furthermore, John’s Baltimore Ravens have the best odds of winning this year’s Super Bowl. Remember, Jim was there during 10 year war between Woody and Bo; and again as player for Bo; and now as the Wolverines head coach. Again, Jim has come in second, this time to his older brother John.

Being competitive with the fear of failure has been a reality for Coach Jim Harbaugh. As a result of failure, the existence of the need for counteraction has been inferred. His failure has not gone unnoticed as far as the Wolverine faithful are concerned, as well as the attention of all the “sports experts” in media and social media alike. There are some that call for his removal as Michigan’s head coach.

With that being said, let’s look at just a few of coach Harbaugh’s actions. In doing so, Dr. Henry Murray provides one model.  Murray hypothesized a number of hypothetical constructs which stand for a force or forces and which organize behavior.  Dr. Murray listed 20 needs. Of the 20, one such need has been called “Counteraction.” Murray’s brief definition “To master or make up for a failure by restriving. To obliterate a humiliation by resumed action. To search for obstacles and difficulties to overcome. To maintain self-respect and pride on a high level.”

A few of Harbaugh’s countractions.  Jim hired Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator in 2019. Coach Gattis was expected to implement the Run Pass Option [RPO] in order to make the offense more productive;   Shaun Nua was hired in 2019 as defensive line coach; Anthony Campanile was hired as defensive assistant in 2019; and eight off the field analysts joined the staff in 2019.  In 2018 the previous year, Jim Harbaugh’s counteractions included hiring Ben McDaniels as quarterbacks coach; Sherrone Moore as tight ends coach; and Ed Warnner as offensive line coach. It’s safe to say that all these recent coaching hires were made as a result of Harbaugh’s need for counteraction in order to make the Wolverines better.

Unfortunately, all these coaching additions have not changed the outcome against the Buckeyes. This is not to say that Harbaugh has not implemented change in his Michigan football program. Perhaps: 1. He lacks effective coaching consistency 2. He lacks outstanding football recruits 3. He lacks an overall philosophy and systematic organization from the athletic department all the way down.

No doubt that with increased anxiety and failure fears, coach Harbaugh’s confidence and self-esteem have been tested, affected and shaken. Can the current high achieving athlete Sisyphus like coach master his personality crisis and expectations or ….?