According to new reports from author John U. Bacon — a trusted source in the U-M community — Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and Athletic Director Warde Manuel have not spoken directly since May of 2022. We knew that tensions were rising between the two, though not many knew that it was at this level.
UPDATE: Since the initial reports, Bacon has clarified that he meant in a professional sense; Harbaugh and Manuel have spoken briefly and informally at events such as bowl practices.
Trouble in paradise?
Over the past two seasons, Jim Harbaugh has led Michigan football to two-straight Big Ten Championships, wins over Ohio State, College Football Playoff appearances, and top-3 finishes. The Wolverines’ football program appears to be thriving right now, though that may not be the case. From the outside, Michigan football appears to be at the top of the college football kingdom with the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and other yearly CFP contenders.
Yet new reports from John U. Bacon insinuate that not all may be well in Ann Arbor right now. According to Bacon, Jim Harbaugh and Warde Manuel have not directly spoken since May of last year. It’s not that they just haven’t seen one another, either.
During the MSU tunnel incident and more, Bacon reported that Jim Harbaugh and Warde Manuel were speaking through intermediaries instead of speaking directly; this has been an ongoing issue for eight months now. Needless to say, it’s less than ideal when your elite head football coach and athletic director are unwilling to speak to one another.
Bacon also added that former University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel never conducted a review of Warde Manuel in his tenure as Michigan’s president. We knew that President Schlissel was not a fan of sports — in fact, he was the opposite — but few realized that there was little relationship between Manuel and Schlissel. Bacon added that, in most years, Manuel would meet Schlissel to do a yearly review/preview.
Santa Ono saves the day
In 2022, U-M hired a new president: Santa Ono from the University of Cincinnati. Since arriving in Ann Arbor, Ono has become a student and fan favorite — he is involved with the community and his love for Michigan is quite apparent. Ono is active among the U-M community in all aspects, but is especially fond of the university’s athletic programs. From the looks of things, Jim Harbaugh loves Ono as much as (if not more than) anyone.
When talks between Michigan and Harbaugh broke down last week, Santa Ono stepped in to save the day once again. After Ono talked to Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines’ head coach decided he wanted to stay at U-M instead of bolting to the NFL.
Right now, rumor is that Warde Manuel wants to be the star of the show; however, he simply isn’t. The AD will never be bigger than the head football coach — not within a solid athletic program, that is.
If it comes down to Warde vs. Harbaugh, there appears to be a clear-cut choice; and frankly, I trust U-M president Santa Ono to make the right call if the situation cannot be salvaged. That being said, there is no telling how Manuel, Harbaugh, and Ono will proceed from here. Ideally, the bonds can be mended before the Wolverines pursue a National Championship this fall.
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