Santa Ono: “Warde Manuel and I want to see Jim Harbaugh stay”

Thursday evening, University of Michigan President Santa Ono took to Twitter to shed some light on the Jim Harbaugh situation. Over the past few weeks, there have been rumors flying surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s future with Michigan and what it will take to keep him in Ann Arbor long-term. From arguments with athletic director Warde Manuel to insufficient contracts, Michigan has not done a great job in keeping Harbaugh happy.

Ono’ statements

Still, despite the rumors and negative narrative surrounding the situation, Santa Ono seems confident that things will work themselves out. In Ono’s first year as president, Michigan football has already won a Big Ten Championship with a 13-1 record. For the first time during the Harbaugh era, the Michigan football program has all of the resources and backing from the administration that it needs.

I pleased to share that I have been having very positive and constructive conversations with our Athletic Director and Football Coach. Warde Manuel and I both want to see Jim Harbaugh stay as the head football coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines. #GoBlue 〽️

— Santa Ono (@SantaJOno) January 12, 2023

Unlike former President Mark Schlissel, Santa Ono knows how much Michigan’s sports team mean to the fans, students, alumni, and community. Since taking over as President, Jim Harbaugh has reportedly become far happier with the admin and how much easier they make his life. Still, new reports insinuate that Harbaugh’s gripes are with AD Warde Manuel, not the administration itself.

Jim Harbaugh responds

Soon after Santa Ono’s statements on the situation, Michigan football released Harbaugh’s response. As many expected, Harbaugh thanked the school admin, but not AD Warde Manuel.

#GoBlue https://t.co/hBHOyqotDx pic.twitter.com/Fce3ddopKx

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 12, 2023

What now?

It is never a good look when the school president needs to step in the middle of a contract negotiation with the AD and head football coach, yet here we are. Regardless, the Wolverines’ No. 1 priority needs to be keeping Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor long-term. If Warde Manuel needs to go, so be it — all fans would rather have a new AD anyways.

It appears as if Harbaugh and Ono are on the same page, the only one that needs to catch up is Manuel. Whatever the issue between Manuel and Harbaugh is can be fixed by either moving on from Warde Manuel or forcing him into giving Jim Harbaugh the contract and treatment that he has earned over the past two years.