Jim Harbaugh extension moving forward

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked at his Monday press conference if reports his contract extension — one that would make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten — had been rescinded were accurate.
RELATED: Monday Musings – More details on Michigan weekend meetings, next steps
RELATED: Jim Harbaugh new contract: On hold? Yes. Rescinded? No

“I wouldn’t say that’s accurate, no,” Harbaugh said. “And the university has a policy. I think they made a statement … about the policy on contracts and publicly talking about them. I think it was worded that they don’t comment about them until they are done.”

If rescinded had meant “on hold,” then yes — but that was not new news. As we reported several days earlier, it was paused when news broke of analyst Connor Stalions’ alleged organization of filming other teams’ signals at games. There have been reports he paid for tickets and expenses to send people to multiple venues, charging tickets in his name.

Michigan met with the NCAA last week and was made aware of the evidence and the allegations, per sources close to the program and in the administration. Some were interviewed, and while no notice of investigation or notice of allegations were provided, some deemed it a “fact-finding mission” in what appeared to be early stages of an investigation.

The U-M administration and others met Monday morning to discuss the NCAA’s findings and determine how to proceed. While rumors spread that it was about a potential Harbaugh “resignation” or perhaps even suspension, it was just the opposite. Based on what they were presented, most were in favor of moving forward with the extension. By Monday morning, it appeared to be a lock, with details expected to be finalized Tuesday. There was some consternation among some Monday night, but several sources indicate the Board of Regents was “unanimous” in its support of the extension.

At a Tuesday morning meeting, all parties involved agreed to move forward on an extension that has been in the works for some time. Sources say it will include language on any potential NCAA issues that might still arise (and Harbaugh and his attorney — no, not another of Harbaugh’s attorneys, Tom Mars, as had been reported and which he denied — are agreeable). We’re told they came to a unanimous decision this morning to extend Harbaugh as soon as possible, with President Santa Ono asking that it be done “immediately.”

Given the progress already made, that sense of urgency, and Harbaugh’s public insistence that he wanted the new deal, several sources believe an extension announcement could come “very soon.”

We’ll continue to report on this developing story as we get more details.

The post Jim Harbaugh extension moving forward — and quickly appeared first on On3.