Michigan Football: Mike Hart is a big hire for Jim Harbaugh

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh promised big changes to the staff and now he has hired Mike Hart.

Jim Harbaugh hasn’t really made any splash hires yet this offseason but that changed Wednesday when the Michigan football coach hired former Wolverine great Mike Hart.

Hart, who has been the associate head coach and running backs coach at Indiana, was offered the job by Harbaugh and Jamie Morris, another former Michigan running back and radio host for The M Zone first reported the news that Hart had accepted. 

Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider then said that he had confirmed the hiring of Hart with Jim Harbaugh so it’s a done deal and it’s a reason for Michigan fans to celebrate.

Hart is obviously one of the most decorated players in history and is the school’s all-time leading rusher, but that’s not why Michigan football fans should be stoked about this move.

From his time at Eastern Michigan and Syracuse to the past four years he has spent on the staff in Indiana, Hart has proven he can develop running backs and that he’s also a very talented recruiter.

According to the official release from the University of Michigan, Hart is coming on as running backs coach. It doesn’t say if he will work to coordinate the offense or be associate head coach as he was with Indiana, however his excitement is clear. Here’s what he said:

"“Michigan has always held a special place in my heart. It is a place that always believed in me and a place that I have always have believed in. I am excited to join Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan staff, and can’t wait to get to work with a talented running back group.”"

Hart’s impact with Michigan

For starters, Hart should immediately help a running back room that was disappointing last season but is loaded with talent.

The Wolverines have two top-100 recruits in Zach Charbonnet and Donovan Edwards, who just signed with the Wolverines last month, as well as Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins, the leading rusher from a year ago.

Hart has also proven to be a really talented recruiter and he’s never been able to recruit for a school like Michigan, which even under Harbaugh has routinely put together top-15 classes.

Hart might not be a co-offensive coordinator, yet he’s going to make a positive impact on this program in a number of ways and you have to give Harbaugh credit for getting him.