Jim Harbaugh and the Top 5 Coaches in the Big Ten
By David Cuff
Apr 4, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh is seen during the Spring football game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jim Harbaugh–
Some may say this is a homer pick, but Harbaugh has something that the other coaches on this list don’t; He has had great success at both the college and NFL level. Harbaugh has yet to coach a game in the Big Ten, but this list isn’t “Top 5 coaches based on what they’ve done in the Big Ten.” This is the top five head coaches, who happen to coach in the Big Ten. That means what they have done at every level, and every team is taken into consideration. Harbaugh has compiled a 58-27 record at the college level with SDSU and Stanford. When Harbaugh took over at Stanford in 2007 the school hadn’t had a winning record since 2001. In 2010 he led Stanford to a 12-1 record and a victory in the Orange Bowl. It is the best season the Stanford football program has had since 1940.
Harbaugh’s success doesn’t stop at the college level. He was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons in the NFL and compiled a 44-19-1 record. In his first three seasons with the 49ers Harbaugh led the team to the NFC Championship game every year. He also took them to the Super Bowl in 2012 where they fell just short to the Baltimore Ravens. He never had a losing record in the pros. There are many successful college coaches who have failed in the NFL, and many successful pro coaches who have failed at the college level. Harbaugh has had great success at both levels.