Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is currently serving a three-game suspension for alleged NCAA violations. In the meantime, Harbaugh’s assistant coaches will be splitting head coaching duties on Saturday, and they have received interesting advice from Harbaugh.
During his press conference after Michigan’s 30-3 win over East Carolina, Harbaugh was asked about the main responsibilities of a head coach on game day. With his years of experience as a head coach, both in the NFL and college, Harbaugh gave a unique answer.
“Being the guardian of victory is probably the most important job,” Harbaugh said. “Ensuring that the decisions made are complementary in all aspects of the game. There’s no offense. There’s no defense. It’s a ‘We-fense.’ Making sure that the players are positioned to succeed through their hard work.”
It seems that defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the interim coach for Week 1, took Harbaugh’s advice to heart. The Wolverines’ offense and defense worked together well for the entire game. Michigan gained a total of 402 yards while limiting the Pirates to just 235 yards.
“I really liked what I saw from our team,” Harbaugh said.
On the upcoming weekend, special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach Mike Hart will share the head coaching duties when Michigan plays against UNLV on Saturday. With the Wolverines being heavy favorites, both sides of the team should perform well once again.
