How will Mike Hart departure impact Michigan football recruiting?

Michigan football will have a new running backs coach in the 2024 season as it was reported on Friday that Mike Hart is no longer part of the Wolverines coaching staff.

Things were really quiet so it felt like something was up. It came out recently that Hart was on leave from the Michigan football program, but it has now been confirmed that he won’t return.

The Michigan Insider is able to confirm that Mike Hart, Michigan's RB coach the last three seasons, will not return to the role in 2024. @chengelis/@detnews_sports first to report

More: https://t.co/2Ed6WwPc4C

— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) March 8, 2024

So what does this mean for the Wolverines in 2024? More specifically, what does it mean for recruiting?

What’s the impact of Mike Hart’s departure on Michigan football recruiting?

Hart wasn’t considered an elite recruiter. Frankly, like Jim Harbaugh, I wish he would have put in more effort. Still, he signed a top-100 running back, Jordan Marshall in the 2024 class, as well as the criminally underrated Micah Ka’apana. Both Michigan football signees told EJ Holland of The Wolverine that Hart’s departure wouldn’t change anything for them. In order words, they aren’t going to ask out of their letter of intent.

"My recruitment feeling has not changed about Michigan"

On300 RB Iverson Howard (@IversonHoward2) reacts to Mike Hart's departure + more on the 2024 RB signees #GoBlue. https://t.co/Y0VV3pYNUL pic.twitter.com/DgtC0XJbOh

— "EJ Holland" (@EJHollandOn3) March 9, 2024

Iverson Howard is emerging as the top running back target in the 2025 class. He’s got an official visit scheduled and he told Holland, “My feeling about Michigan has not changed.”

The next RB coach should be a recruiting upgrade

It’s a bummer Hart isn’t on the staff anymore. At one time, it felt like he could have been the next Michigan football head coach after Jim Harbaugh. Hart was also the run-game coordinator and his impact on the field shouldn’t be minimized. He’s a big reason why Michigan’s running backs were so successful the past three seasons and the Wolverines only dropped three games while he was an assistant coach.

That wasn’t all because of Hart. But some of it was and that’s what Moore will need to replace. In terms of recruiting, someone like Denard Robinson feels like a clear upgrade, but finding a coach with the recruiting chops, as well as the development ability of Hart — will be more challenging.

Yet, in terms of Michigan football recruiting, the loss of Hart shouldn’t have a huge impact.